We need to help needy on benefits revamp roll-out
the Government say the Government needs to slow down and rethink this.
“It’s a political decision because Iain Duncan Smith said it would be rolled out and repeatedly missed those targets. The Government now thinks it would be a show of weak- ness to pause the roll-out, but I think the opposite is actually true.”
The former Walton MP also outlined how he believed the creation of the city region would benefit the town.
The city region came into place this year, allow- ing more powers and finances to be devolved to the area.
Mr Rotheram said: “Southport at times has struggled to be part of Merseyside and all of a sudden they are getting lumped in, some feel, with the Liverpool City Region.
“It’s no different to Halton, which is part of Cheshire but within the curtilage of the Liverpool City Region so they are having some issues as well.
“But St Helens are and certain parts of the Wirral are.
“It’s the opportunity for six districts to work collaboratively and look at what the scale and synergies of 1.5 million people provides us with the opportunities to capitalise on.
“In Southport, for instance, the fact that it has 22 miles of coast beauty is something of real benefit to Liverpool City Region but when we create economic growth, that hopefully will come to areas like Southport and benefit Southport.
“When we create jobs, when we improve the skills chances of young people and create apprenticeships, they will be available here so there are things that are common across the six districts and they’re the things we have responsibility for – transport links, for instance.”