Star News

St Helens Council's Marie Rimmer hits back at 'Luddite' claims amid City Region Mayor row

1:40pm Friday 27th January 2012

MARIE Rimmer has rejected comments by a political colleague that accused St Helens and Wirral Councils of acting like ‘Luddites’ in opposing calls to create a City Region Mayor.

Senior councillors from both councils blocked moves last year to create an elected Mayor for the whole of Merseyside.

The issue created friction among heavyweight Labour figures regionally and yesterday Liverpool Council leader Joe Anderson reignited tensions by apparently criticising St Helens Council in an interview with the Liverpool Daily Post.

Anderson, who announced his intention to stand as a candidate to become Liverpool’s elected mayor was quoted as saying: “I still think a regional mayor would be best, but, because we cannot have that, my position has changed.

“St Helens and Wirral have acted like Luddites, but we will get the powers and resources to shape our own destiny.”

Essentially, the term Luddite means someone who is opposed to change, and dates back to the early 19th century when workers destroyed new machinery, particularly in the textile trade.

The idea of a regional mayor had been vehemently opposed by some Star readers, who expressed fears that effectively widening Liverpool’s power base would erode the town’s identity.

Councillor Rimmer, the leader of St Helens Council, stopped short of entering a war of words with her Labour colleague, but justified her cabinet’s viewpoint.

Rimmer, who has always opposed investing power in one individual, said: ““If Liverpool want a Mayor that is their business and wish them well with it.

“However I will never agree to being ruled from Liverpool, my administration will always put St Helens residents first.”

She added: “Regardless of your politics, the one thing that unites almost everyone is a fundamental belief in democracy.

“It’s a sacred principle that I have always believed in – and will always defend. And it’s why I always opposed calls to create a City Region Mayor.

“Investing so much power in one individual is not the way forward in my opinion.”

Rimmer added, as far as the Merseyside area was concerned, local authorities had a shared interest in working together to bring about economic change.

She said: “We share a common goal. Together we can make a difference. One individual having a complete power base is not the way forward.

“Along with Wirral, we were able to apply the brakes and halt the headlong rush to a Merseyside ‘Mayor-ocracy.

“I’m a firm believer in teamwork. And I’m more than happy to work in partnership with whoever has a shared interest in growing the local economy – be it our neighbouring authorities, central government or the private sector.

“It’s not that long ago we gave our full support to a new cruise terminal in Liverpool along with plans to improve the Port of Liverpool.

“We also backed Wirral Council’s bid for a World Trade Centre and took the lead in the development of the Liverpool Enterprise Board.

“We support Halton Council in their bid to build a new Mersey Bridge. By working with the Mersey Partnership St Helens has helped to attract millions of pounds in Regional Growth Funding.

“We have a long tradition here in St Helens of successful partnership working with the private sector and were responsible for the first ever public-private sector partnership - Ravenhead Renaissance, which has continued to deliver economic growth over the years.

“We also work very closely the hugely successful St Helens Chamber of Commerce.”

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