Michael Gove criticises 'weak leadership' at troubled Liverpool City Council

Michael Gove told the conference there was a "common thread of weak leadership" in Liverpool and Slough

Michael Gove has hit out at the "weak leadership" of Liverpool City Council which led to commissioners being brought in.

The levelling up secretary told a local government conference that failings at the council were "wholly unacceptable".

Commissioners were sent to run parts of the authority in 2021 and contract errors have cost it millions of pounds.

The city's chief executive has said the council has "nowhere to hide" in its attempts to improve.

Tony Reeves told a meeting of the authority's cabinet that a review commissioned by Mayor Joanne Anderson had "uncovered embedded practice" in corporate affairs across the council.

The Labour mayor, who has vowed to restore the troubled council's reputation, took up her post after commissioners were brought in and installed a new cabinet.

'Glaring failures'

Speaking at the Local Government Association conference in Harrogate, Mr Gove said he intended to straighten out the management of the beleaguered city council, parts of which have been operating under the supervision of four government commissioners since March 2021.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said an update on the commissioners' progress was expected in the coming weeks, which may lead to further intervention at the council.

In May, a briefing note from within Mr Gove's department said the authority was going "backwards, not forwards" in some areas.

Mr Gove said authorities like those in Liverpool and Slough hindered devolution of power to regions

Mr Gove said there was a "common thread of weak leadership" at both Liverpool City Council and in Slough, where commissioners have also been sent in.

"I'm sure, like me, you find these failings wholly unacceptable," he said.

"It's not just the case that the people of Liverpool and Slough deserve better, it's also the case that local services matter."

He said the authorities hindered devolution of power to regions.

"The cause of greater devolution and decentralisation, the reinvigoration of our democracy, is set back when there are conspicuous and glaring failures in some councils," he said.

He also told the conference he was due to meet Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram for a tour of the six boroughs in July.

It is expected Mr Rotheram will take the secretary of state to Knowsley to highlight the impact of it receiving £0 per head under the government's Levelling Up plan.

Update 29 June 2022: This article has been amended to remove a quote, attributed to Michael Gove, in which he said "Get a grip" after it transpired he did not use these exact words. The opening paragraph has also been amended to make clear that his criticism did not relate to the current administration.

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