A frontrunner has emerged in the race to take over leadership of Liverpool Council's Labour group.
Nominations have now closed for those wishing to put themselves forward to lead the city's ruling political group, replacing Mayor Joanne Anderson who will depart from the council at the next elections in May.
The ECHO understands that Kensington and Fairfield councillor Liam Robinson has put himself forward for the position and a number of sources have suggested he is likely to be the leading candidate for the role. Whoever is voted in as leader by Labour councillors will assume the position of leader before the end of November.
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Cllr Robinson was elected to the council back in 2008. A former rail worker, the 40-year-old is well known for his work as the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's transport lead - a position he has held since 2012. He also recently took over as the council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods after Cllr Abdul Qadir stood down amid an investigation.
A number of Labour sources have suggested that after years of division and disruption within Liverpool's Labour group, Cllr Robinson could be seen as a unifying figure that can try to bring the group back together again. Others pointed to his work with the Liverpool City Region as key experience for the role.
Seen as a safe pair of hands and untarnished by recent council scandals, Cllr Robinson's trusted relationship with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram - who will chair a new panel looking to shape the city's future - is seen as another plus.
Earlier this year Liverpool Council and its Labour majority controversially voted to abolish the position of Elected Mayor that has been in place since 2012. This means that from next May's elections, the council will revert to a leader and cabinet model in which the largest group on the council votes in a leader.
Mayor Anderson will leave the council altogether in May, so whoever her replacement is as Labour group leader will stand a good chance of being the overall leader of the council - if Labour continue to be the largest council group after the May votes.
But Cllr Robinson is not the only figure understood to have entered the leadership race before nominations closed last night. The ECHO understands that Norris Green Councillor Barry Kushner has also put his name forward. Cllr Kushner is a former cabinet member on the council and the current chair of the council's finance committee.
Sources have also suggested that Fazakerley Councillor Frazer Lake may have also entered the race. Cllr Lake is an assistant mayor in the current council cabinet and holds the portfolio for health and social care.
One other name that has been linked to a potential leadership run is Labour's chief whip Ruth Bennett. It is not clear whether the Belle Vale Councillor has officially put herself forward, with sources suggesting she may instead decide to back Cllr Robinson. Cllr Liz Parsons is another name that had been linked to a potential run for leader.
In term of what happens next, the process will be wrapped up quite quickly. Candidates will be interviewed tomorrow ahead of a shortlist being put together by Wednesday. On Monday November 28 the Labour group will meet for a hustings event followed by a vote to select the next leader of the group and potential next leader of Liverpool City Council.
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