Warren Bradley facing battle to remain Liverpool council leader

May 4 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL Council’s former “deputy leader” emerged from the shadows yesterday to challenge Warren Bradley for the leadership of the city.

Richard Kemp last night appeared to be the main contender in the leadership challenge for the Liberal Democrats which will also feature Paul Clein, who recently resigned as education leader.

Over the past nine months, Cllr Bradley, who is currently facing an ethical standards investigation, has been damaged by a number of high-profile rows and the fall-out from the Mathew Street festival.

He was further damaged by a third year of poor results at the ballot box, with Lib-Dem control of Liverpool left hanging by a thread and only maintained by the midnight defection of former Labour councillor Nadia Stewart.

The Lib-Dems will meet on Monday, May 12 to choose their leader in what looks likely to be a close-run race.

Last night, Cllr Bradley said he would not be stepping aside and would face the twin assault, which started just eight hours after Thursday’s local elections were over.

He said: “It is healthy for a political group to have contests for senior positions within that group.

“The Liberal Democrat group has faced many challenges over the last few months and I believe we will come through it stronger and more united as we celebrate the next phase of Liverpool’s regeneration opening at Liverpool One at the end of May.”

LABOUR leader Joe Anderson said: “I stated quite clearly before the elections there was open civil war within the Lib-Dems.

“Once again this will damage the city, people’s minds will be concentrated on their positions rather than what’s best for the city and the council.”

Cllr Kemp, who represents Church ward and leads the party on the Local Government Association (LGA), is regarded as one of the most important figures within the Lib-Dem party nationally and has the ear of senior figures.

Six years ago, he resigned the prominent position of Liverpool’s housing leader over failings to develop the city’s notorious Boot estate.

He chose to take a back seat in city politics and threw himself into his work on a national level, but retained his reputation as one of the best orators in town hall debates.

Last night, it was unclear if other senior councillors would also enter the race.

Leisure leader Colin Eldridge, who has been tipped for the top but harbours a passion to become MP for Wavertree, is unlikely to throw his hat into the contest.

Last night, Cllr Kemp said his decision to stand was not a reflection of Cllr Bradley but on the council as a whole.

“I think behaviour from councillors has been poor across the board. The council must start to think more corporately for the people of Liverpool.

“We have been indulging in politicking because we don’t do the politics properly.

“We have bickered rather than acted in a more statesman-like way.”

Cllr Kemp said he already had the support of executive board members, of which his wife, Erica, is one (education), and the backing of former council leader Sir Trevor Jones.

“I would not be doing this unless I had a certain measure of support.”

He started thinking about making a bid but had kept his silence until the election was out of the way.

Cllr Kemp, who sat on the council from 1975 to 1985, and from 1992 to the present, said he would attempt to build consensus politics in Liverpool if he won the leadership.

He said he would not give up his job at the LGA if successful.

“I actually believe that a major city like Liverpool needs to be out there in the world selling itself.

“My job at the LGA gives me unprecedented access to government ministers.”

He would not be offering positions ahead of the secret vote next Monday, but would be offering his ideas to the party.

He admitted that he had not got everything right as housing leader, but said he had taken responsibility for that.

Meanwhile Cllr Clein said he had been spurred on to stand because of what voters had said.

“The clear message on the door steps was that while people recognised we had significant success, we needed a change of leadership.

“We have a good narrative to tell, but there has been all this other stuff.

“We need a change of leader, we were given a kick up the backside last night. We have lost some good colleagues and one man is the reason for that.”

CLLR Clein, who has been a councillor for the past 16 years, resigned a month ago from his position of education leader.

At the time he said he was “fed up” seeing Cllr Bradley and the council on the front pages for all the wrong reasons, such as the Mathew Street Festival debacle.

Last night he said: “We have to lance the boil, we have to make a change, unite the group and run it in a different way.

“The most talented people need appropriate positions.”

He admitted the manner in which the Lib-Dems had hung on to power was “not ideal”.

Cllr Bradley took over the leadership after Mike Storey was forced to resign in November 2005 over claims he had “plotted” to get rid of then chief executive Sir David Henshaw.

Last night Cllr Storey, currently regeneration leader, said he would be backing Cllr Bradley.

OPINION: PAGE 6

davidbartlett