Liverpool's Growth Supported By PM

The Government has today welcomed a report from Lord Heseltine and ex-Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy on the opportunities available for growth in Liverpool and surrounding areas.

Mr Leahy has a considerable interest as he was born and grew up in in a pre-fab maisonette on a council estate in the Belle Vale district of Liverpool before his rise to the position of running the UK's largest supermarket chain.

The document, an independent assessment commissioned by the Prime Minister, studies the potential for growth, job creation and investment in the Liverpool City Region.

The Liverpool City Region local enterprise partnership, local councils and businesses in the area helped Lord Heseltine and Sir Terry compile the report. They will all now work together on the recommendations and how they can be driven forward across the city region.

They will also work in partnership with the Cities Minister, Greg Clark, with the findings of the report informing the work he is doing with Liverpool and seven other core cities to help them maximise their growth potential.

David Cameron said: "This report is all about securing jobs and lasting growth for Liverpool. I've always said the secret to our economic success is people – businesses, inventors and creators.

"This hugely impressive report shows a real way forward – demonstrating how we can give the people and leaders of Liverpool the opportunity to attract new investment, start new businesses and become world leaders in industry for years to come.

"It sets a template for our other great cities to follow – and I want to thank Lord Heseltine and Sir Terry Leahy for all their hard work," he said.

Cities Minister Greg Clark said: "For Britain to succeed in the years ahead our great cities must succeed, and Liverpool has to be part of that success.

"The unique qualities that have been made Liverpool famous the world over are found in the city itself, and so the Government needs to give Liverpool and its leaders the right to do things their way, rather than have to dance to London's tune.

"That is what Michael Heseltine and Terry Leahy are recommending, and I look forward to working with civil and business leaders as they consider the challenges that this report puts forward."

Lord Heseltine said: "We do not skirt the serious problems that face the city but the issues of unemployment and patches of unacceptable deprivation are relevant in a national context rather than particular to Liverpool itself.

"Looking ahead a quarter of a century this is a report of optimism and potential. It could not have been written in such a spirit 30 years ago."

Liverpool 'lad' Sir Terry Leahy said: "There has been a great deal of change in Liverpool already, but Lord Heseltine and I wanted to identify how the strengths of the city and its surrounding areas could be built on to ensure success, and help those parts that need extra support.

"We support the Government's quest to create a culture of enterprise, and we firmly believe Liverpool can play a central role to delivering that vision."

(BMcC)