Michael Heseltine and Sir Terry Leahy lead Liverpool economy health check
The Prime Minister has called in Lord Heseltine and Sir Terry Leahy to lead a health check on the state of the Liverpool city regional economy.
One-time “Minister for Merseyside” Lord Heseltine arrives in Liverpool today to begin a three-week fact-finding mission.
Lord Heseltine will report back to David Cameron on the city region’s economic growth.
Working with Liverpool-born Sir Terry – whom Lord Heseltine dubbed “legendary” – he will meet with business and community leaders to size up the opportunities available to investors, and weigh up the challenges still facing Merseyside.
This morning, Lord Heseltine – who was pivotal in the regeneration of Liverpool in the wake of the Toxteth riots in 1981 – was set to meet with members of the Liverpool Local Economic Partnership (LEP) at the town hall to discuss the region’s growth.
His visit coincides with today’s relaunch of the Garden Festival site, in Otterspool, a project he personally drove forward in the years following the Toxteth riots.
Lord Heseltine was commissioned personally by the Prime Minister, given that he has arguably the strongest link to the region of any past or present serving Conservative minister.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Post, the one-time challenger for the leadership of the Conservatives, said: “I was delighted when David Cameron asked me to get involved in the discussions about the growing success of Liverpool and its surrounding area.
“He felt it would be helpful to him if he could be kept informed about the way the new LEP was tackling its responsibilities, and how this will impact on the responsibilities of the Government.
“He suggested that I work with Sir Terry Leahy, the legendary former boss of Tesco and himself a member of the LEP, to keep him in touch.
“Without doubt, the 18 months between the Toxteth riots of 1981 and my promotion to Defence Secretary at the beginning of 1983 were the most challenging of my career.
“They left indelible memories that I treasure to this day.”
He said Liverpool had now proved it was “fit for purpose” in the modern, competitive market, adding it had become a can-do city.
But he warned that he believed the balance was still too heavily tipped towards London in economic and influence terms.
Lord Heseltine added: “It is impossible to overstate but essential to emphasise the change in the attitudes of local people today.
“It is the first reason why I was so pleased by the Prime Minister’s invitation.
“Thirty years later, Liverpool and its people are in the premier league of urban renaissance.
“I believe that, over my lifetime, London has become too dominant.
“The Government is committed to reversing this centralising process.
“For my money, it is long overdue and is an agenda that needs to be pursued with vigour.
“The creation of a real partnership between the public sector and the enterprise economy through the LEP is intended to draw together the strengths of the city region.
“Nothing like that partnership existed in the Liverpool I remember of 1979, but it does now, and it has the opportunity to conceive what Liverpool could be like in the next 30 years.”
Next week, Lord Heseltine will spend two days with former Tesco chief Sir Terry for the second leg of his fact-finding mission, and is understood to be returning again the following week for discussions with council leader Joe Anderson.
Unfortunately, his commitments today mean he will be unable to be at the Garden Festival site relaunch.
Cllr Anderson said he welcomed Lord Heseltine’s continued commitment to Liverpool, and hoped the Government took stock of his findings.
He added: “It is encouraging that Lord Heseltine continues to take a keen interest in Liverpool's economic growth.
“I have spoken with him a number of times and feel he is well placed to understand the opportunities and challenges we as a city face.
“He more than any other member of this current government knows how much Liverpool has changed in the past 30 years, and I hope he sees the massive potential which exists to go further that exists. My hope is that he listens closely to the people he meets during his time here and takes on board the ideas and concerns raised by the LEP.
“Most sincerely, I hope that when he reports back to the Prime Minister, that David Cameron listens to what this city has to say and gives us not only the support but the freedom to grow the city region.
“If the Government means what it says about relaxing London's grip on the regions, then he needs to put his money where his mouth is and trust Liverpool to know best what it needs as a city and as a city region.”
Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, added the LEP was fundamental to the relationship between the public and private sectors Lord Heseltine championed.
He added: “It gives us the ability to have a really strong relationship between the private and public sectors and have a real, robust plan for ‘Liverpool City Region PLC’.”
[Image: Lord Michael Heseltine, David Cameron & Sir Terry Leahy]
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