2024 UK local government election
2024 Liverpool City Region mayoral election
|
Turnout
| 24% (
5.7%)
|
---|
|
|
The
2024 Liverpool City Region mayoral election
was held on 2 May 2024 to elect the
mayor of the Liverpool City Region
, with results declared on 4 May. The election was part of the
2024 United Kingdom local elections
across England and Wales.
Steve Rotheram
, of the
Labour Party
, was re-elected for a third term.
[1]
Background
[
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]
The position of
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
was created in 2017 following a
devolution
deal between the UK government and the
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
(LCRCA). The
Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016
required a directly elected metro mayor for combined authorities to receive additional powers from central government.
[2]
Under the terms of the devolution deal, the first mayoral term was set to last until 2020, followed by elections every four years.
[3]
The election originally due to take place in May 2020 was postponed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
.
[4]
The Liverpool City Region is defined as having six boroughs which includes the county of
Merseyside
(
Knowsley
,
Liverpool
,
St Helens
,
Sefton
, and
Wirral
) and the
Borough of Halton
.
Steve Rotheram
, the Labour candidate, won the
initial election in 2017
and was re-elected in the delayed
2021 election
.
Electoral system
[
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]
This election was the first to use
first-past-the-post
to elect the mayor as a result of the changes made by the
Elections Act 2022
, with the previous elections in 2017 and 2021 using the
supplementary vote
system. Voters were able to vote for a single candidate, and the candidate who received the most votes will be elected mayor.
[5]
All
registered electors
living in the
Liverpool City Region
aged 18 or over on 2 May 2024 were entitled to vote in the mayoral election. Those who are temporarily away from the Liverpool City Region (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) were also entitled to vote in the mayoral election. The deadline to
register to vote
in the election was 16 April 2024.
[6]
Campaign
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]
Rotheram, the incumbent Labour mayor, said that if re-elected he would build three new
Merseyrail
stations across the region by 2030, in
Woodchurch
,
Carr Mill
and
Daresbury
.
[7]
Green Party
candidate Tom Crone's priorities include "an expanded home insulation program that will save people money on their bills lifting many out of fuel poverty. Training in the green jobs of the future so people are ready to be part of the transition to net zero. And a properly joined up public transport and active travel network making travel easier and cleaner around the city region."
[8]
Rob McAllister-Bell, the
Liberal Democrats
candidate, said he would introduce contactless payment across public transport in the region by 2026. He also promised to give elected politicians more power on the combined authority.
[9]
Independent candidate, Ian Smith is an independent councillor in Merseyside. He said he wants the region to be "united, ambitious, egalitarian and environmentally sensitive" and wants inclusivity to be a priority. He set out his vision for the region to focus on innovation and science, and to update the transport network.
[10]
He also stated his desire to end rough sleeping.
[11]
Candidates
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]
Labour
[
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]
Steve Rotheram
, who has served as mayor of the Liverpool City Region since the inaugural election in 2017, and previously served as Member of Parliament for
Liverpool, Walton
, stood for re-election.
[12]
Conservatives
[
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]
The
Conservative Party
re-opened their selection in January 2024 after receiving a single application, from the party's 2021 candidate Jade Marsden. The local party chair sought more candidates given "strong and widespread opposition to Jade Marsden standing for the LCRMM role again given her past performance as a candidate".
[13]
Marsden was later confirmed as the party's candidate.
[14]
Green Party
[
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]
Tom Crone, leader of Liverpool Green Party, councilor for St Michael's, and previous mayoral candidate, stood for the Greens.
[15]
Liberal Democrats
[
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]
Rob McAllister-Bell, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group on
Liverpool City Council
, was announced as the Liberal Democrat candidate in March 2024.
[14]
Independent
[
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]
Ian Smith stood as an independent candidate. He self-describes as a
socialist
and campaigns for an immediate ceasefire in the
Israel?Gaza war
.
[16]
Results
[
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]
References
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]