Five reasons you should vote in the Metro Mayor election
● 1. It’s all about our region - not Westminster
Understandably people have become sick and tired of an increasingly distant brand of Westminster politics.
When you look at the pantomime debates in the House of Commons and the dominance of privately-educated, privileged individuals at the very top of government - it is not hard to see why many in our region have switched off.
It is hoped the creation of a new Metro Mayor will deal with some of that disconnect and make politics more relevant and accessible to people in and around their home areas.
By electing a new, accountable and local leader - it could provide people with a route to get back involved in what is happening in our region.
This person will be from around here, based here and will have to answer to us - the people of the Liverpool City Region. 2. The new Mayor WILL have real power
This is a brand new position and we don’t know exactly how it will work - but it will come with important new powers.
Whoever is elected will be responsible for important areas like transport, housing, planning, employment and the economic development of the whole region.
They will be in charge of a huge budget and will regularly be making crucial decisions that will affect the lives of you and your family - decisions that up to now are being made more than 200 miles away. 3. They will be more accountable
One of the main reasons we are getting a new mayor for the region is to provide a new figurehead position that people in our region will be able to look to directly.
Now this is already the case for people in Liverpool, who have had an accountable, elected Mayor since 2012 - but for residents of Halton, Wirral, Knowsley, St Helens and Sefton - there has been no single person to look to for answers and leadership - and of course to complain to when things go wrong.
Exactly how accessible the position will be will depend on who is elected - but it has to be better than a Government cabinet member in Whitehall who hasn’t been past the Watford Gap since the 90s. 4. It is a crucial time for the region - we need the right person in charge
Most would agree the Liverpool City Region is an area on the up - but it is also facing huge challenges in terms of government cut-backs and a social care crisis for our ageing population.
There are also growing issues around homelessness, jobs and poverty.
We need to ensure that our region continues to grow and develop into the international force that it is becoming while meeting these many challenges - and that requires the right mayor to lead that charge. 5. You can’t complain if you don’t vote
It is no use saying you are not interested in elections and then getting angry when things happen you don’t like.
We are fortunate to live in a free and fair democracy and while we often don’t agree with the decisions our leaders make - we have the ability to vote them in and out of office and there are plenty of people in the world who can’t say that.
So have a read of what the candidates are promising, and come to a decision you think is best for the place you live.
And make sure you vote on Thursday May 4.