The Leading of Liverpool

One of the key reasons for Manchester's stability and sustained success, not to mention a business-friendly reputation, is that it has had full time political leadership for almost twenty years now.
Though the chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein, is often lauded as the man behind Manchester's regeneration, council leader Sir Richard Leese, and Graham Stringer (now MP) before him, have provided Bernstein and his team of officers with a clear political vision and strategy to deliver.
Bernstein, though undoubtedly a talented individual, is able to perform with the confidence he does, because he knows he can count on consistency, support and a high level of accountability from his political masters.
More importantly, when the big issues have to be dealt with, and decisions made, there is no hiding place for Manchester's political leadership. Leese cannot cry 'not me gov' if things go wrong - because he is on duty 24/7.
He could not claim he had been kept out of the loop if, for example, a high profile music festival was cancelled in his city, or if the Manchester tram scheme had been scrapped!
The fact that from Lancashire to Birmingham, from Barcelona to New York, all accept the need for full time political leadership to manage their cities in the twenty-first century, is of no surprise. Liverpool's reluctance to follow suit is truly baffling.
Liverpool City Council is a billion pound plus business, and as such the elected representative who sits at the top of the organisation can no longer see the role as a hobby; like it or not it is a full time job.
But what does this matter to the local business community?
Full time political leadership can ensure that decision-making is streamlined, and quicker. A full time leader can devote the necessary time to persuade and charm potential inward investors to their city. And they can spend more time in the company not just of business leaders, but also of resident, community and voluntary groups, gaining a much fuller appreciation of what the city thinks and needs, rather than wholly relying on the advice of political colleagues who often have vested interests, and inevitably prioritise their own ward issues over and above the strategic interests of the city.
What is a good political leader worth? Priceless I'd say - just ask Manchester!