'Thirty years later, they stood with us again': How Southport rallied around its mosque
PLUS: Andrew Brown's latest recommendations and newsbits courtesy of Stand up for Southport
Hello and welcome to edition 17 of The Southport Lead.
This week there is sadly no Jamie Lopez - who is taking what is probably his first holiday in a very long time and it is much-deserved - but we still have plenty of updates from Southport.
This week, we attended an interfaith iftar in Preston that was attended by Imam Ibrahim Hussein - the leader of Southport mosque.
He spoke extensively at that event about the kindness he experienced last summer when the Southport mosque was targeted by rioters.
We also have the latest from Stand Up For Southport for our paying subscribers.
Jamie will be back in the chair by Wednesday’s edition - we hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Southport mosque leader praises local community rallying in their time of need
By Luke Beardsworth
The imam of Southport mosque, at the centre of riots in the summer, says that the aftermath taught him the good in the world outweighs the bad.
Imam Ibrahim Hussein is chairman of the Southport Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre – which was subject to attacks from rioters in the days that followed the murders of three Southport schoolgirls by 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana.
Despite the killer having no connection to Islam, misinformation abounded in the days following the murders, with posts on X claiming the suspect in custody to be an asylum seeker.
Hussein was speaking at an interfaith dinner held in Preston - attended by The Southport Lead - when he spoke of how Southport had rallied around his community, and not for the first time.
He said: “Our community in Southport were there for us thirty years ago when we wanted a mosque. A lot of people said no - but a lot more people said “why not?
“Now their grandchildren came and stood with us again. They helped us repair windows and repair walls.
“When communities come together, it shows what we need in order to have coherence in our society. And it says - these people will never, ever win.”
The event, held on Thursday evening (March 6) at Preston’s Quaker Meeting House in Deepdale, was a gathering of people of all faiths (and no faiths) in which the focus was on the commonalities shared by communities.
Hussein said: “People will always look at colours or your nationality or ethnicity or anything - they look at it and they are afraid and worried. They are afraid of what the ‘other’ person is thinking and what the ‘other’ person wants.
“People used to walk across the road from our mosque and wonder ‘what’s going on inside here?’
“Of course, nothing is going on except people getting together to worship in the way that they have been taught.
“If you want to know what is going on at the mosque, come and knock on our door. We will welcome you.
“Your religion, and my religion, is something to do with you. But that shouldn’t stop us from coming together and having a cup of tea. Because that which can bring us together is much more than that which divides us.”
The convictions that followed the disorder last summer were subject to criticism from some circles, with the phrase ‘two-tier Keir’ introduced in the aftermath.
However, Imam Hussein believes the strength of the response was crucial to instil safety at a tumultuous time.
He said: “The government, whether you agree with their ideology or we don’t, nipped it [violence in Southport and then the UK] in the bud right from the start. This is something we will always be grateful for because unless they did that, this menace would have gone on and on.
“Then came the police - we cannot thank them enough. The police stood and defended the community and took heavy casualties - and that didn’t stop them.
“I saw a police officer a few days after and he stopped in the street. I didn’t recognise him because he was wearing shorts and flip flops. He asked how we were all doing.
“I said we were fine but that the day of the rioting in Southport had been very difficult for us.
“He said, if they come for you tomorrow - we will be there for you tomorrow. And this shows there are a lot of decent people.”
The event was organised by The Light Foundation, a charity focused on building better understanding between diverse communities. It was attended by leaders from different faiths in Lancashire, the charity and care sector, staff from UCLan, Lancashire Constabulary and Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, and Labour MP for the Ribble Valley Maya Ellis.
It was also attended by Imam Adam Kelwick who made headlines in August by taking food to protestors outside Abdullah Quilliam Mosque in Liverpool.
He reiterated his belief that most of the people at that protest - and the majority in the UK - were good people who are lacking a voice that has now been filled by people acting in bad faith.
Police, fire service and city region costs set to rise
By Elliot Jessett
For the first time in years every element in a Merseyside council tax bill will be increasing next year. With every local authority in our region confirming they would put up council tax by the maximum amount of 5%, residents will see rates across the board hitting them in the pocket a little more in the next year.
Alongside that, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Merseyside Police and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will also be asking for additional household contributions over the next financial year.
With public facing organisations all feeling the squeeze financially, proposals were signed off for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (MFRA) to increase the fee we pay through our council tax to support officers.
Members from across the constituent councils have backed a rise in the precept of £5 for the year 2025/26. It is thought the fund bump could bring in an additional almost £2m in the coming 12 months.
Merseyside’s current 2024/2025 Band D Council Tax of £91.25 is slightly above the fire and rescue service national average of £90.32. It is expected the increase put forward for 2025/26 would maintain this position.
“Difficult economic circumstances” have led to an increase in the amount we pay to fund the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor according to the man in the chair.
Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) agreed to set the organisation’s annual budget which includes an increase to the Mayoral precept for the first time in seven years.
Having established the tariff in 2018/19, residents across the six boroughs have paid a frozen rate of £19 a year per Band D property.
The precept is part of the overall council tax paid by Liverpool City Region residents and used to fund City Region-wide services for which the Metro Mayor is responsible. A rise of £5 a year has been signed off per band D home, owing to what Mr Rotheram described as “challenging” times for local government finances.
The annual increase ranges from £3.33 for a Band A property to £10 for a Band H property. For the majority of properties within the City Region, the increase will equate to less than 1p a day.
Mr Rotheram said the Liverpool City Region is “never shielded from national economic context” and said the area faced “difficult economic circumstances” currently.
He added: “Local government finances remain challenging to say the least so we must aim to protect residents while also investing in jobs and job creation, public transport, the environment, infrastructure, business support and tackling inequality.”
The Metro Mayor added how increases to the mayoral precept was “crucial” to delivering major projects like the publicly owned bus network that works “in the people’s interest, not in the interest of shareholders.” Mr Rotheram described the precept increase as a “modest adjustment” equating to no more than an additional penny.
In February, Emily Spurrell, Merseyside police and crime commissioner, confirmed the force’s annual terms, which included an 18p a week, or £9.33 pa increase in the police precept for a Band A property and an additional 27 pence a week (£14 pa) for a Band D property. She said: “This year’s budget is designed to protect police officer and staff numbers and sustain the visible policing presence we all value so highly.
“It will also help the force to continue its work to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.”
News in headlines
'Last shop of its kind' hoping to win big with Nan's Scouse Pie (Liverpool Echo)
Elon Musk's X refused to hand over users’ details to police after Southport riots (The Standard)
Royal Mail deliveries suspended after dog attack (Liverpool Echo)
Record breaking Alex Rigby ‘in shock and disbelief’ after raising £42,000 running between all 69 Merseyrail train stations (Stand Up For Southport)
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What’s on this week
By Andrew Brown
You can enjoy a good craic in Southport next week as the town gets ready for some vibrant St Patrick’s celebrations.
There are events happening throughout the town at locations including Southport Markert, The Grand, Punch Tarmey’s, Connolly’s, The Auld Dubliner and more.
You can also catch cult comedy classic Rita, Sue and Bob Too starring Jake Quickenden on various dates at The Atkinson.
Here are some of the many things you can enjoy in Southport this week (9th March 2025 - 16th March 2025):
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