Joanne Anderson has won the contest to be Labour’s Mayor of Liverpool candidate.
The Princes Park councillor edged out her Croxteth counterpart Anthony Lavelle to become the party’s designated choice for the upcoming elections.
Cllr Anderson was elected to Liverpool City Council in 2019 and could make history as the city’s first black and female leader if successful on May 6.
She previously worked for the Crown Prosecution Service and has been a tireless community campaigner for several years.
“Throughout the pandemic we have seen the very best of our people,” said Cllr Anderson.
“We are a city that cares, a city that hopes, a city with pride. Last week, our city’s pride was knocked because of the actions of a few.
“The Caller report has highlighted serious failings within our city council, and I promise to make it my priority to drive our improvements, restoring trust in our city and putting social value and transparency at the heart of everything we do.
“We must use this as a springboard to transform how we do things and provide a new, fresh approach for our city.
“We have got to rejuvenate our social sector. We must address our housing crisis by building Council housing and affordable homes.
“We must regenerate our city in a way that puts communities first.
“Most importantly, we must ensure our city once again becomes a city of opportunity for everyone, especially our young people.
“I will be honest about our past, and I will also be positive about our future as a city.
“Our city has been through difficult times before and we got through it with grit and determination. It is that same spirit that will get us through these next few years.
“I am asking the people of our city to join me in cementing Liverpool’s status as the world-class city we know it to be.
“To make Liverpool a city where everyone has a part to play and every contribution is valued – a city we can all be proud to love.”
Her nomination marks the end of an extraordinary selection process which began when ex-Mayor Joe Anderson (no relation) stood aside in December.
The 63-year-old was one of five men who were arrested in a police investigation into the awarding of building contracts within the city.
Three longstanding councillors put themselves forward to succeed Mayor Anderson with Labour preparing to formalise an all-female candidate shortlist.
However party chiefs suspended the process and subsequently removed Wendy Simon, Anna Rothery and Ann O’Byrne from the selection process.
Cllr Anderson’s successful nomination has been met with criticism from opposition candidates, including local Liberal Democrats leader Richard Kemp.
He said: “The Labour Party is treating the people of Liverpool with absolute contempt.
“Cllr Anderson has just two years’ experience as a back-bench member of the Council. She has conceded that she has twice been a bankrupt.
“This will hardly inspire confidence in a council where up to £100 million has been squandered by her Party.
“Labour now want this inexperienced individual to lead a council that is, by common consent the worst in England.”
Stephen Yip, standing as an independent candidate, also believes that Cllr Anderson and Labour have several questions to answer prior to the elections.
He said: “Is she going to say sorry now for the disgraceful mismanagement of the city and the loss of up to £100m of Council Tax payers’ money?
“Will she commit to building a cross party cabinet that brings the city together, or will she only appoint cabinet members from within a discredited and complicit Labour Group?
“And how many former members of Joe Anderson’s Cabinet is she intending to appoint?”