Rob McAllister-Bell
for Liverpool City Region Mayor
Why do you want to be Metro Mayor?
Metro Mayor is such an opportunity to bring real change, not just for Liverpool but across the city region. I am proud of Liverpool, proud to be from here and I want to match the warmth and welcome of our people with a plan for a world class, connected city region.
What’s your background?
So I grew up in Walton, went to Alsop High School and from there went as a trolley collector to Sainsburys on Rice Lane. I worked my way up to store manager. I work in telecom complaints now, as well as being councillor for Mossley Hill Ward since 2021. Both these roles give me the opportunity to help people and show me everyday that listening is so important.
Why are you a LibDem?
I am a working class lad from Walton and for me, the LibDems embody our values as a city. We believe in freedom, in live and let live, that people should be who they are and that you can’t do that if you’re living in poverty or subject to prejudice. I am a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and as a man with disabilities, am only too aware of the work to be done not just in accessibility but in empowering all marginalised groups.
You have championed the plight of the homeless?
Absolutely, and it comes so close to home for me. My Mum was homeless in her youth and by getting the support she needed went on to create the most loving, wonderful family home for me and my siblings. Things can and must change in our city region to give homeless people the help they need.
How will you make your voice heard?
I have been very vocal in the council about calling Labour to account. The role of Metro Mayor will give me a platform to champion our region and ensure people are listened to.
Where is home now?
Home is our house in Speke that I share with my husband and our gorgeous cat Lillie.
Rob's Six to Fix for the Liverpool City Region
Ending Rough Sleeping and Homelessness in the City Region
- Lobbying the Government to provide more power and resources to the Combined Authority to build and deliver a city region wide homelessness reduction strategy because having a roof over your head should not be a postcode lottery.
- Providing temporary free public transport to those presenting as homeless to local authorities, so they can get travel for work, house viewing and getting the kids to school without the added worry finding the extra money to cover the expenses.
- Work with the local authorities to build new council houses to cut waiting lists and deliver high quality homes with affordable rents for people across the City Region.
Fixing our public transport across the City Region
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- Local control of buses to help restore lost bus routes & reconnect communities across our region. Introduce 1 hour bus tickets
- Ambitious expansion of the Merseyrail network, with new stations and reopening disused lines. A rail link to Liverpool Airport by either Merseyrail or Tram-Train.
- End the scandal of passengers being fined despite having valid tickets. Accept e-tickets and introduce Tap-on, Tap-off technology.
Delivering health equality across the City Region
- Regardless of where in the City Region you are born or live, a Lib Dem Metro Mayor will work to improve health and life expectancy across the City Region with tackling cohesive public health strategy that brings local authorities, health service providers and other bodies together to deliver the best possible health outcomes giving everyone fair chance in life.
- Work with the public and private sectors to develop and grow our life sciences sector here in Merseyside to be a world leader in healthcare innovation.
- Ensuring that the Liverpool City Region is disable friendly and fully accessible city as much as possible, included making all Merseyrail stations accessable. Ensure that disabled voices are empowered and included in part every process.
Scrapping the Police and Crime Commissioner
- Scrapping the post of Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner by bringing Halton into the Merseyside police force and giving the PCC powers to the Metro Mayor like Greater Manchester.
- Putting the money saved back into frontline policing, so that there are more bobbies on the beat tackling crime rather than pushing paper in an office.
- With the powers of the PCC, a Lib Dem Metro Mayor can deliver a joined-up approach to the night-time economy of the City Region, coordinating public transport, economic regeneration, the police and culture.
Building a green future for Liverpool’s next 100 years
- Using the power of the Metro Mayor’s office to put a stop to United Utilities dumping sewage into the River Mersey, River Dee and other waterways – backing the Liberal Democrat calls sewage tax on £2.2 billion water company annual profits and making them clean up their own mess.
- Building a tidal barrage across the Mersey to provide clean green energy for the City Region – bringing investment and jobs that will have a massive impact for decades.
- Making sure that the Lvierpool City Region is a business and worker friendly city that will grow and develop high-quality and well-paying jobs in growth sectors – making it primed to be a centre of innovation and industry for the next 100 years tackling the challenges we face like the climate emergency.
Being a Metro Mayor who is accountable to voters
- Putting the powers of the mayor back into the communities across the city region, rather than being a mayor that rules from the top down – wherever possible giving local councillors and community groups the chance to get involved in the work the Combined Authority is doing in their areas.
- Holding regular Mayor’s Question Time in each district. A Lib Dem Metro Mayor will be accessible and approachable to public as a whole.
- Improving transparency and scrutiny of the City Mayor so taxpayers know that their money is never being wasted on vanity projects and needless self-promotion because our Mayor should work for the people not themselves.
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