MP wants 'working class Northerner' as Angela Rayner's successor
Plus: Have your say on A&E plans and police officer accused of sexually inappropriate behavious
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
It’s only a couple of years since we saw constant leadership challenges under the dying days of the Tory government - now Labour’s is looking for a new deputy leader following the resignation of Angela Rayner.
In today’s edition, Southport MP explains his choice to succeed Rayner and what qualities he hopes she can bring to the role. We also hear new calls for people to get involved with proposals to relocate the children’s A&E service to Southport and news of Merseyside Police officer accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour which could cost him his job.
This week has also seen the resumption of the Southport Inquiry which is examining how the missed opportunities to prevent last year’s attack from happening. Further down you’ll see links to some of the coverage from the first two days and if, as it understandable, you’re finding it difficult to see it all back in the news then remember support is available - check out the council’s information page for more on that.
Working class Northerner needed to unite general public and Downing Street
Southport MP Patrick Hurley says a “working class Northerner” is needed to replace Angela Rayner as deputy Labour leader.
Rayner stepped down from her roles, which also included Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, after it was found she had paid the incorrect amount of tax when buying a home following her divorce.
Various candidates have emerged as her potential replacement and Hurley believes the successor should be someone who can speak to those who have become disaffected since the General Election.
Speaking to The Southport Lead, Hurley said he was sad to see Raynor leave her role. He said: “She’s a woman of great talent and I will miss her. She made a mistake and she’s paid a heavy price for it but we need to look forward now.”
Hurley is backing the Birkenhead MP Alison McGovern as her successor and believes she can appeal to a wide base of people and business and can provide a link between the general public and Downing Street. McGovern first entered politics in 2006, has been an MP since 2010 and is now serving as a Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Hurley believes she is an ideal choice to take over Raynor’s role as deputy leader. He said: “I think we need a working class Northerner. Alison for my money for the bill, she can appeal to the elements of the working class that maybe Angela just missed the mark on.
“Speaking to people across Southport, Alison is well-liked, she’s respected. She comes from a very normal background but she’s also got a good brain. She can show she’s from a normal working class family but as well as that she can hold her own in any room she goes to.”
The Southport MP cited McGovern’s ‘emotional intelligence’ among the reasons he supports her and believes she can help the government recover from a year in which its popularity has been damaged by policies relating to winter fuel allowances and National Insurance.
One factor which Labour will consider in its decision making is the threat of Reform. The Nigel Farage-led party continues to poll well and attract support but Hurley has often pointed out the normal of recent Conservatives who now fill its ranks.
He is also critical of the decision to choose a speaker who suggested that Covid vaccines were linked to the King's and the Princess of Wales' cancers at Reform’s conference last week.
“They're platforming fascists, they’re platforming anti-vaxxers. They’re platforming all sorts of cranks and weirdos.”
With Sefton Council facing rare all out elections next year in which every seat is up for contention, the performance of the national parties will be of great significance locally.
Children’s A&E proposal is ‘moment town has been waiting for’
Renewed calls are being made for people to support proposals to bring children’s A&E services back to Southport as a major consultation progresses.
Public meetings are taking place this month to discuss two options for the future of emergency care in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. As first reported by The Southport Lead in July, the plans will result in adult and children’s A&E both being located in one hospital - either Southport or Ormskirk.
Those drawing up the plans have said Southport is the preferred location for financial, and clinical reasons but, with less than a month until the consultation closes, leaders insist that no decisions have been made.
West Lancashire Borough Council and West Lancs MP Ashley Dalton have told decision makers from the Shaping Care Together programme that Ormskirk should be the chosen location, while Our West Lancashire councillors are among those rallying public support for that option.
Next week, Sefton’s councillors will be urged to speak with one voice in backing the Southport plan, which would see the children’s A&E built as part of an extension and would accompanied by the expansion of other clinical services at the hospital - such as physiotherapy and orthopedics - to allow more patients to receive treatment in the single location. A multi-storey car park is also being considered to meet the additional demand.
Ahead of the full council meeting, motions have been put forward by councillors John Pugh and Mike Prendergast, the leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups respectively. Both will ask councillors to unite in supporting the Southport option collectively while inviting the wider public to also make their voices heard.
Cllr Pugh said: “The decision to remove A&E was made by NHS bosses allegedly on the grounds of clinical safety and any decision to bring children’s A&E back will be made by NHS bosses on the grounds of NHS economics, with it costing almost £60 million more to run A&E from Ormskirk.
“Things have improved in so far as the NHS is leading the public consultation this time whereas back in 2003 we had to persuade NHS representatives to attend public meetings. However, the decision making power still lies with the NHS chiefs.
“Financial reality has changed minds previously deaf to petitions, protests, marches, parliamentary and council debates. We should welcome the change of heart, but rectifying a two decade mistake isn’t a done deal yet.
“We have seen proposals for improved Children’s Services and, even at one time, a completely new build hospital disappear in a puff of smoke. There will be pushback too in West Lancs to re-siting children’s A&E in Southport.”
Cllr Prendergast said: “This is the moment Southport has been waiting for. I urge everyone to take part in the consultation and make it clear that Southport Hospital must once again provide the full emergency care service, including Children’s A&E, that our town needs.”
The consultation is open until midnight on Friday, October 3, and responses can be submitted here. A further public meeting will take place at The Community Church, Ash Street, on Tuesday, September 30. You can register here to attend.
Recommended reading
The Southport Inquiry resumed on Monday and has so far been hearing incredibly powerful and emotional testimonies from Jonathan Hayes - the businessman who tried to challenge the killer - and the parents of some of the surviving children. Here is a small sample of the coverage from the past two days:
Man stabbed while tackling Southport killer describes scene of ‘horror’ - The Guardian
'My daughter is changed forever because of what that man did' - Liverpool Echo
Police officer accused of leaving female colleague fearing for safety
A Merseyside Police officer has been accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour towards colleagues.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Southport Lead to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.