Steve Rotheram

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In January 2022, Rotheram, alongside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, renewed calls for a Hillsborough Law to ensure fair treatment for people bereaved in public tragedies. [33] The campaign was later supported by Keir Starmer who stated at Labour party conference in 2023 that "one of my first acts as Prime Minister will be to put the Hillsborough Law on the statute book". [34]

Bus reform

On 6 October 2023, Rotheram delivered on a key manifesto pledge and voted to end 40 years of bus deregulation in the Liverpool City Region, using the powers in the Bus Services Act 2017 to bring services back into public control. [35] The move was supported unanimously by leaders of the city region’s local authorities and was welcomed by local passenger groups who argued the announcement would be “transformational for passengers”. [36]

New trains rollout

In January 2023, the first of the British Rail Class 777 trains went into service on the Merseyrail network, following a £500m rail investment from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The early rollout of the battery-operated trains was marred by cancellations and faults. [37] [38] In November 2023, Rotheram spoke of his frustration at the roll out and criticised train manufacturer Stadler and demanded immediate improvements for passengers [39] and later announced a package of compensation for the most affected passengers and a fare freeze across the Merseyrail network. In the intervening months, performance on Merseyrail improved sharply, with train punctuality returning to the mid-90% and Merseyrail regaining its status as one of the best performing operators in the country. [40]

Liverpool Strategic Futures Advisory Panel

Following government intervention into Liverpool City Council, Rotheram was appointed by Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Greg Clark to chair the Liverpool Strategic Futures Advisory Panel to develop a long-term plan to guide Liverpool City Council out of the current government intervention and help shape the future of the city. [41] Rotheram was joined by Baroness Judith Blake and Sir Howard Bernstein and set out three keys priorities for the city rebooting Liverpool’s regeneration, 21st century public service reform, and turbocharging the innovation economy. [42] The work of the Panel was welcomed by leader of Liverpool City Council, Liam Robinson who heralded a “new era of partnership working” across the city region [43] and Michael Gove announced a £31m investment in the city to kickstart regeneration across the city and a commitment to work with the city region to develop an Office of Public Service Innovation. [44]

Third term (2024–present)

In February 2023, Rotheram announced his intention to stand for a third term as Mayor [45] and was re-selected unanimously as the Labour candidate in March. [46] His campaign included a pledge to drive up foreign direct investment into the Liverpool City Region by 25% by the end of the decade and a commitment to build 3 new stations on the Merseyrail network at Carr Mill in St Helens, Woodchurch in Wirral, and Daresbury in Halton. [47] [48]

A further pre-election announcement was made regarding plans to improve connectivity to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the city’s football stadia by introducing bus rapid transit, similar to that which operates in Belfast. The announcement was met with mixed reception with some welcoming plans to address a strategic transport priority, whilst others accused the pledge of lacking ambition. [49] [50]

Rotheram was re-elected at the 2024 Liverpool City Region mayoral election. [51] He was elected with 68% of the vote and was declared the winner on 4 May 2024.

Personal life

Rotheram and his wife, psychiatric nurse Sandra, have three children together. [6] His two daughters survived the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. [52]

In 2024, Rotheram co-authored Head North: A Rallying Cry for a More Equal Britain with Manchester's metro mayor Andy Burnham. [7] [53] The book was described by Jonathan Ball in the New Statesman as simplifying the North–South divide in England to "'London elite' vs 'neglected north' caricatures". [54] He is also points out that the book was ghostwritten by Liam Thorp, political editor of the Liverpool Echo , "the most senior local journalist tasked with holding [Rotheram] to account" (though actually "painting flawed local leaders in overly positive hues"). [54]

Notes

  1. ↑ The number was later amended to 97.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Anon (2010). "Rotheram, Steven Philip" . Who's Who (176th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 2736. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U251616. ISBN   9781399409452. OCLC   1402257203.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ↑ "Steve Rotheram MP". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "Biography | Steve Rotheram". Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "Your Metro Mayor".
  5. 1 2 "The Big Interview: Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotheram 'My plan was not to become overinvolved in politics'". Liverpool Post . 25 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 3 "About Steve". Steve Rotheram MP: Liverpool Walton. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  7. 1 2 Burnham, Andy; Rotheram, Steve; Thorp, Liam (2024). Head North: A Rallying Cry for a More Equal Britain. Orion Publishing Group, Limited. ISBN   9781398719736. OCLC   1427635577.
  8. ↑ "3.06pm - a time to remember: Hillsborough 20 years on". Liverpool Echo. 15 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  9. ↑ Stewart, Gary (26 March 2010). "Cllr Steve Rotheram chosen to fight Liverpool Walton constituency for Labour". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Election 2010: Liverpool Walton". BBC News. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Hillsborough papers should be released - MPs". BBC News. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  12. ↑ Quinn, Ben (17 October 2011). "Hillsborough disaster: MPs debate disclosure of secret documents - as it happened". The Guardian . Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Interview with Steve Mullin". Blue Kipper. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 23 December 2012 - 29 December 2012". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  15. ↑ Eaton, George (26 January 2015). "The Labour left demand a change of direction - why their intervention matters". New Statesman. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  16. 1 2 Liam Murphy (23 May 2016). "Steve Rotheram 'doesn't want to fall out' with Joe Anderson over metro mayor job". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  17. ↑ "Corbyn aide wins Labour backing for Liverpool mayoral race". Financial Times. 10 August 2016.
  18. ↑ Dale, Iain (25 September 2017). "The 100 Most Influential People On The Left: Iain Dale's 2017 List". LBC. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  19. ↑ McManus, Leigh (5 June 2018). "How you can help end Northern Rail travel chaos". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "Merseyrail platform upgrade plans announced". Merseytravel. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "Metro Mayor hails improved rail links at Maghull North station official opening". Merseytravel. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  22. ↑ "Metro Mayor announces half-price rail travel for young apprentices in the Liverpool City Region | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - News". Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  23. ↑ "Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram launches Liverpool City Region apprenticeship portal | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - News". Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  24. ↑ Thorp, Liam (15 July 2019). "Landmark scheme to get homeless people into homes launches in our region today". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  25. ↑ "Climate emergency declared for Liverpool City Region | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - News". Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  26. ↑ Thorp, Liam (12 December 2022). "Mersey Tidal Project and where it is up to now". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  27. ↑ Bounds, Andy (18 October 2020). "Liverpool given £30m to enact tougher Covid restrictions". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  28. ↑ "Green Light for Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's £150m COVID Recovery Fund | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - News". Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  29. ↑ "Elections | www.wirral.gov.uk". www.wirral.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  30. ↑ "Elections results 2021: Steve Rotheram re-elected as Liverpool City Region mayor". BBC News. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  31. ↑ Rollison, Caitlin (17 May 2021). "Three Policy Priorities for Steve Rotheram". Centre for Cities. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  32. ↑ Tague, Neil (31 March 2021). "Rotheram launches re-election bid". Place North West. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  33. ↑ "Hillsborough Law would level scales of justice, say mayors". BBC News. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  34. ↑ https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-09-27/keir-starmer-announces-new-hillsborough-law-in-pitch-for-prime-minister [ bare URL ]
  35. ↑ "Liverpool City Region's buses to be brought under public control". BBC News. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  36. ↑ "Liverpool City Region's buses to be brought under public control". BBC News. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  37. ↑ Humphreys, David (21 March 2024). "Merseyrail chief issues apology over new train chaos". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  38. ↑ Thorp, Liam (1 November 2023). "'Patience wearing thin' as it's 'same apology, no explanation'". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  39. ↑ "Liverpool train delays 'frustratingly poor', Mayor Steve Rotheram says". BBC News. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  40. ↑ "Performance Information". www.merseyrail.org. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  41. ↑ "Government to set up strategic futures panel to support growth and lead Liverpool to bright future". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  42. ↑ "Liverpool Strategic Futures Advisory Panel: Final report".
  43. ↑ Carey, Adam (6 September 2023). "Panel appointed as part of Government intervention at Liverpool completes report". Local Government Lawyer. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  44. ↑ "£208m investment in the North to transform towns and cities". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  45. ↑ Thorp, Liam (19 February 2023). "Steve Rotheram to seek third term as Liverpool City Region Mayor". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  46. ↑ https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0EZmTGMeNLPoxXRMEbvWS4qkoEN9xiUz8FE2FUsw7wYiNTFXUnL5JpX9gu4cUZFoxl&id=100057463298704 [ bare URL ]
  47. ↑ "Liverpool City Region mayor: Who is the Labour candidate?". BBC News. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  48. ↑ "Liverpool metro mayor pledges three new railway stations for city". BBC News. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  49. ↑ Thorp, Liam (31 March 2024). "Plan for 'trackless tram' to reach Liverpool Airport and Anfield". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  50. ↑ Thorp, Liam (3 April 2024). "Rotheram confirms 'Glider' plan but not everyone is on board". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  51. ↑ "Local election results 2024 live: London mayor and West Midlands race being counted". BBC News. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  52. ↑ Rachel Roberts, Manchester 'explosions': A 'number of fatalities' reported following Ariana Grande concert in The Independent online dated 22 May 2017, accessed 23 May 2017
  53. ↑ Myers, Benjamin (2024). "Head North by Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram review – northern mayors' manifesto for hope". theguardian.com. "I could just smell the bullshit"
  54. 1 2 Ball, Jonny (11 March 2024). "Battle cry of the Scouse dads". New Statesman. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
Mayor
Steve Rotheram
Steve Rotheram 2018.jpg
Rotheram in 2018
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2017
Political offices
Preceded by Lord Mayor of Liverpool
2008–2009		Succeeded by
New office Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
2017–present		Incumbent
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Liverpool Walton
2010–2017 		Succeeded by
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