Joe Anderson has been criticised for suggesting Liverpool City Council could provide total funding for Everton’s new stadium.
The Labour leader recently hinted there was an ‘open door to the possibility’ that the local authority could foot the bill for the Bramley-Moore Dock.
Building costs on the site in the north Liverpool docks have risen to over half-a-billion, with the Blues committed to finding funds for the new stadium.
Council bosses have already pledged to provide funding for two thirds of the current budget with £280m set aside through a Special Purchase Vehicle.
But Richard Kemp, Liverpool’s Liberal Democrats leader, has described Mayor Anderson’s suggestion of the council taking on Everton’s total debt as ‘lunacy’.
Cllr Kemp said: “If the private sector is not prepared to put money into this project it would only be for one reason, that they did not consider the project to be viable.
“In that case it would be lunacy for the council to take on the whole of this debt.
“I agree that EFC and the council need a plan B and strongly urge you to look at proposals that came forward recently for the redevelopment of the current ground as Liverpool FC have done.”