Guest blog: Alex Turner wonders who Labour will choose as their business representative
Now that Liverpool council's new leader Joe Anderson has announced his new cabinet attention will turn to who he will chose as his business representative.
The move very much reflects the new political arrangements in vogue now in both national and local government - and is a marker that his business-friendly words are to be matched by action.
The objective is to have someone at the heart of city government who can speak up for the needs of Liverpool business and help to forge a more effective partnership between the private and public sectors at a local level.
If this partnership is successful it would be to the great advantage of everyone in this city - and to a large extent the success of the role will be determined within the coming days when the person is chosen.
For the appointment to have any validity, it must go to someone who has a track record of success in business in the city.
The city isn't short of people who represent - or claim to represent - the interests of part or all of the business community.
But it is more important that the right person can represent the needs of business even if they aren't representative of the community itself.
The right candidate needs to be an entrepreneur who has built a business in Liverpool and who is committed to the future prosperity of the city.
They must be active, successful and in touch with the day-to-day realities, obstacles and frustrations of running a successful business in Liverpool.
But who is the right person? Answers on a postcard to Joe Anderson, Town Hall, Liverpool.
Alex Turner is a business reporter for the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo.
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David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
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Put your money on Paul Flanagan
Paul Flanagan is certainly a passionate advocate of Liverpool who understands the challenges of running a business in the city.
Joe Anderson needs to find someone who isnâÂÂt a yes man or just a talking head and IâÂÂve always found Mr Flanagan to be forthright and well-informed (a combination that can be quite rare).
Ronnie - do you think he'd be a good person for the role?
Are there any other names that should be in the frame?
I don't know whether Flanagan would be good in the role or not. All I know is that he's a drinking buddy of Joe's - and that's probably all it takes. Any others? I can think of a few that might fancy it. And one who fancies himself, but he's to be avoided at all costs.
There is a hiding to nothing here.
Appoint someone associated with any representative grouping (Chamber, Downtown etc) and you will have appointed someone who represents only a small minority of businesses in the city (and remember that the city is not just the city centre).
Appoint someone who is constantly involved in the planning process and you will stand accused of underhand dealings even when there aren't any.
If there is to be someone, I would expect it to cause problems no matter who it was.
Having someone representing business on the Cabinet may sound good but it is anti democratic. Today we were told that the Cabinet in Liverpool is a political body. Well, leave it to the politicians then. They are at least elected by the people. I know some don't value that but it is right. The business vote was removed years ago and rightly so.
Joe would be best to steer clear of the Flanagans. They have, er, a "reputation", shall we say.
thank you to share this post with us i'relly thanlksfull to you
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I do know it was my option to read, but I truly thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you possibly can repair if you happen to werent too busy searching for attention.