Liverpool Council: Labour names Joanne Anderson as mayor candidate in scandal hit city

She would be first black female leader of any major British city

Joanne Anderson (Labour)

“Everyone calls me Jo,” a smiling Joanne Anderson told reporters on Monday evening. “I only ever get called Joanne when I’m being told off. But, for obvious reasons, I get called Joanne a lot lately.”

The Liverpool councillor has this week won the race to be Labour’s candidate in the city’s mayor elections in May – and there are perhaps two things worth immediately noting.

One. She is, despite the name, no relation to former mayor, Joe Anderson, a man who stepped down in December after being arrested by police probing allegations of bribery and witness intimidation at the authority.

Two. If she wins – and, in this red stronghold, victory appears all but certain – she would be both the first black leader of Liverpool and, significantly, the first black female leader of any major British city.

“Growing up in Liverpool through the Eighties, particularly as a young black woman, the message I received from Thatcher’s Britain was that I was bottom of the pile and that I wouldn’t amount to much,” the 50-year-old said in a victory statement. “Our city was positioned for managed decline.”

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But she added: “I am asking for the people…to join me in rebuilding Liverpool as the world class city we know it to be.”

The nomination comes after one of the most torrid weeks in Merseyside’s political history.

An eviscerating government report – commissioned after Joe Anderson’s arrest – found the authority to be so mired in scandal that Whitehall officials will now be sent in to help run the planning, highways, regeneration and property management departments.

Inspectors described a culture where “dubious” contracts were regularly handed out, key records were routinely destroyed and staff who dared voice concerns – or even ask questions – were intimidated.

Among major issues highlighted were senior councillors benefiting financially from funding decisions, a scrutiny process described as “sketchy”, and the handing of at least one major contract to a direct family member. Insiders suggest as much as £100m of public money may have been squandered.

Referring to the report, Ms Anderson, a business consultant who spent 10 years working for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Last week, our city’s pride was knocked because of the actions of a few.

"The Caller report has highlighted serious failings within our city council, and I promise to make it my priority to drive our improvements, restoring trust in our city and putting social value and transparency at the heart of everything we do.

“We must use this as a springboard to transform how we do things and provide a new, fresh approach for our city.”

The single mother, who was only elected to the council in 2019, saw off competition from fellow councillor, 25-year-old Anthony Lavelle, who congratulated her on the success.

Labour will hope her campaign can draw something of a line under the scandal but also under a controversial nomination process in which three previous candidates – Wendy Simon, Ann O’Byrne and Anna Rothery – were all removed from the shortlist without any explanation.

Yet the twin crisis has led to this year’s elections being the most open in decades.

In a city where 72 out of 90 councillors are Labour – as well as every single one of the city’s MPs – anything other than a red victory seems unlikely. But a political earthquake cannot be completely ruled out: a poll by the Liverpool Echo newspaper found 69 per cent of people were considering changing their usual vote.

"The Labour party is treating the people of Liverpool with absolute contempt,” Richard Kemp, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat opposition, said. “Councillor Anderson has just two years experience as a back-bench member of the council. She has conceded that she has twice been a bankrupt. This will hardly inspire confidence in a council where up to £100 million has been squandered by her party.

"Labour now want this inexperienced individual to lead a council that is, by common consent the worst in England."

Independent candidate Stephen Yip was equally as scathing.

"Is she going to say sorry now for the disgraceful mismanagement of the city and the loss of up to £100m of council tax payers’ money?” he asked.

In other developments, meanwhile, the Labour party announced on Tuesday morning that it had now appointed former minister David Hanson to lead an internal review of the issues raised in the Caller report. He will be aided by Judith Blake, former leader of Leeds council.

Communities secretary Robert Jenrick is expected to announce who will be on the government team sent into to restor order to the council later this week.