It’s a great honour to have been selected as a candidate in this election.

Full statement

Steve has had the Mayoralty for 7 years now, and like so many people I wonder what was the point? What has he achieved that wouldn’t have happened without him? Now, he’s asking for 4 more years to really make a difference - that’s just not going to wash with voters in the city region.

That’s why I want this election to be about the change that the Liberal Democrats can bring to the City Region. When we took over the Liverpool City Council in 1998, we brought Liverpool One, the Capital of Culture and made long lasting changes that have made Liverpool a great place to live. If I’m elected, then I won’t be the mayor on one Mann Island. I want to make sure I’m out across the city region, talking to residents, communities, and local leaders. Even here in Liverpool the City Region can feel distant because there is no accountability or proper scrutiny.

This May, voters have a clear choice that can have Labour’s missing Mayor cooped up in his office or back the Lib Dems for a new change of direction.