Luciana Berger launches manifesto for Metro Mayor bid
Wavertree MP Luciana Berger has pledged to make Liverpool & Merseyside the 'best place in the world to live' as she launched her manifesto in her bid to become Labour's candidate for the new Metro Mayor
Wavertree MP Luciana Berger has pledged to make Liverpool & Merseyside the 'best place in the world to live' as she launched her manifesto in her bid to become Labour's candidate for the new Metro Mayor
In a speech to Labour Party members and activists today in the City Centre, she said the region needs to be 'brought back together after a ‘difficult and divisive’ EU campaign.
Referring to the tumultuous events of the past week, Berger said: “The economic and political landscape is changing fast. The realities of Britain’s exit from the EU could hit our region hard. We need new ideas, new leadership and new energy.”
“The EU referendum result shows that we must listen to people when they say they are not being heard.”
She said she wants to introduce a Mayoral Senate that will represent community groups, trade unions, co-operatives, social enterprises, businesses, as well as leaders from health, education, transport, culture and faith communities to act as an advisory body; alongside a young people's Deputy Mayor.
As part of her campaign she said that 72,000 children in the city region currently live in poverty and she plans to provide a region-wide breakfast and school holiday club.
She said: “I will tackle the underlying root causes of inequalities. I will start by ensuring every child has access to a school breakfast club, so the next generation gets the best start in life.” Attacking the Tory Government’s ‘bogus’ living wage, Berger will announce her plans to guarantee that everyone working for the Metro Mayor will be paid at least the real living wage, and to champion the living wage amongst employers across the region. Promising an overhaul to the transport system across Merseyside she said: “Put simply, at the moment it takes too long and costs too much to connect people, jobs and opportunities.”
Berger will pledge to “connect every one and every corner of our region” by introducing not-for profit buses, smart ticketing and a part-time season ticket to support the 200,000 people in the region who work part-time.