Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson's leaked 'butt out Burnham' email
Hot on the heels from the Labour party row that has thrown Merseytravel into crisis, the party is enjoying the rough and tumble of selecting its candidate for police commissioner.
Jane Kennedy and Peter Kilfoyle have been busy securing endorsements from high-profile party members.
Andy Burnham has come out to bat for Killer. Which in turned sparked a email from Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson.
I know it has been doing the rounds for a couple of days.
But here it is, enjoy.
Dear friend,
I have received a letter from Andy Burnham, which asks me to support Peter Kilfoyle for Police Commissioner. What is surprising is that Andy Burnham does not live in Merseyside and will therefore be taking no part in the selection. I am sure we are all deeply grateful that he has taken the time to tell us what we need in Merseyside and who he is backing (if only he had a vote).
Unlike Andy Burnham, as the Elected Mayor and Leader of Liverpool Labour Party I will have to work closely with the future Police Commissioner. I therefore decided to write and let you know who I would prefer and why.
I will be voting for Jane Kennedy because I want a police commissioner that I can work with. Someone who believes they are accountable to the Labour Party and its members. Someone who has always worked collegiately and taken a positive and supportive approach and the only one of the three shortlisted who has made a massive contribution to Liverpool Labour Party and the success we currently enjoy.
We are fortunate on Merseyside that we have a candidate with Jane's experience. Not only was she was the first women to hold ministerial office in the Lord Chancellors Department, but she was also Minister with responsibility for security, the police and prisons for 4 years in Northern Ireland.
We need a Police Commissioner who can work constructively with the Chief Constable, the Police Federation, council leaders, our MPs and the Labour Party across Merseyside.
That's why I am asking you to do as I am doing and vote for Jane Kennedy. She, more than any other candidate, will bring the party together in unity to fight the difficult campaign that faces us. She is without question the outstanding candidate in this election.
Yours fraternally
Joe Anderson
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David Bartlett
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"as the Elected Mayor and Leader of Liverpool Labour Party I will have to work closely with the future Police Commissioner"
That being the case, would it not have been wiser for the Mayor to remain impartial? If Peter Kilfoyle does win, The Mayor-Commissioner relationship won't be getting off to a good start.
Did the person who wrote this letter for Joe explained to him what "fraternally" means before he put his name to it?
Jane's leaflet has supportive statements from David Blunkett and John Reid, neither of whom a far as I'm aware, live on Merseyside.
A bit worrying. Sounds like the last thing he wants is someone who is their own man and instead wants someone who will be subservient to himself.
Rather like the position of mayor it is rightly assumed that whoever gets the Labour nomination will get the job.
Joes intervention in this one is akin to the Chief Exec of the council telling the electorate which party to vote for and should be a definite no no.
Looking on the bright side, should the party comply with the dictate from Joe Anderson, it will save a walk to the polling station.