Sefton Council to get first female leader since it formed

Marion Atkinson has been chosen as the new leader of Sefton Borough Council

A council is set to be led by a woman for the first time since it was formed 50 years ago.

Marion Atkinson has been chosen by the Labour Party as the new leader of Sefton Borough Council.

Ms Atkinson, who has been a councillor since 2012, has been named as leader of the party's group and will be ratified as the Labour-led authority's leader at a council meeting later in the week.

Opposition groups have criticised the selection process as undemocratic.

It is understood her selection was overseen by the Labour Party, rather than elected members having a vote.

She will succeed Labour's Ian Maher, who retired in January.

The leader of the largest group on a local council typically becomes the leader of the authority and Labour has controlled Sefton since 2012.

Key challenges

Ms Atkinson, who followed her uncle, Bootle MP Peter Dowd, into politics, said it was "a huge honour and privilege to be elected the first woman leader of Sefton, the place I was born".

"My leadership will ensure politics in Sefton is conducted to the highest standards in an open, transparent way," she added.

The appointment will make Ms Atkinson the only female council leader in the Liverpool City Region and see her sit alongside five male colleagues and regional Mayor Steve Rotheram on the Combined Authority.

She faces some key challenges, including transforming Sefton's children's services, which is still in special measures and overseen by a government commissioner following a series of poor Ofsted inspections.

There is also a need to find long-term funding for Southport Pier, which has been closed due to health and safety reasons and will need an estimated £13m to fix.

Opposition councillors have criticised Labour's selection process.

John Pugh, the former Liberal Democrat MP for Southport who is now leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, said to have the "process of selection interfered with by a remote Labour body, based outside Sefton, is not only insulting to Sefton councillors and residents, it is not how democracy is supposed to work".

A Labour Party representative said the process had taken place in accordance with its rules.