Knowsley Council Leader Graham Morgan Appointed Liverpool City Region Deputy Mayor Following Cabinet Reshuffle

Knowsley Council leader Cllr Graham Morgan has been appointed as the new Deputy Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, following a series of changes to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet.

The appointment was announced by Mayor Steve Rotheram during today’s Combined Authority meeting and comes after former Deputy Mayor Mike Wharton stepped down as Leader of Halton Borough Council earlier this month.

Cllr Morgan, who has represented Knowsley on the Combined Authority since its formation in 2014, will continue to oversee the City Region’s Housing portfolio, which will now include a renewed focus on Strategic Planning.

Cabinet changes announced across the Liverpool City Region

Alongside Graham Morgan’s appointment, a number of other Cabinet changes have also been confirmed.

Cllr Angela Ball, who recently became the first woman to lead Halton Borough Council, joins the Combined Authority Cabinet and will take responsibility for the Energy and Environment portfolio.

Meanwhile, Wirral Council leader Cllr Paula Basnett has been appointed to oversee Economic Growth and Regeneration, taking over the portfolio previously held by Mike Wharton. 

The role also includes positions on both the Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership Board and the Liverpool City Region Innovation Zone Programme Management Board.

The Combined Authority also approved the appointment of Cllr Eddie Dourley, Halton’s Deputy Leader, as substitute member for Cllr Ball.

Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“Graham has been a brilliant partner since the Combined Authority was created, and I’m delighted to appoint him as Deputy Mayor. 

“He’s a passionate champion for Knowsley, for housing and for our wider city region, and I know he’ll bring the same energy and commitment to this role.

“I’m also pleased to welcome Angela Ball to the Cabinet following her appointment as Halton’s first female council leader. 

“Alongside Paula Basnett’s new role, these changes mean that, for the first time, our Cabinet is gender balanced. That’s an important step forward and one that better reflects the communities we serve across the Liverpool City Region.

“One of the biggest strengths of the Liverpool City Region is that our six boroughs work together. 

“By bringing together different perspectives, experiences and ideas, we can keep delivering the opportunities, investment and improvements that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Graham Morgan looks ahead to new Deputy Mayor role

Cllr Morgan said he was proud to take on the new role while continuing to support housing across the city region.

He said: 

“I’m delighted to be appointed as the Deputy Mayor of the Liverpool City Region. 

“I’ve been part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since its inception in 2014 and have had responsibility for the Housing portfolio throughout my time.

“I’m really proud of our achievements over the years across the whole City Region and look forward to driving forward and delivering our priorities over the coming years for the benefit of everyone who lives, works, visits or invests in the Liverpool City Region.”

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority brings together the elected leaders of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral, alongside the directly elected Metro Mayor, to oversee investment, transport, housing, economic growth and other strategic priorities across the region.

Cllr Angela Ball was elected Leader of Halton Borough Council on 8 July, becoming the authority’s first female leader. Before entering local government, she spent almost two decades working in clinical research and has represented the Birchfield ward since 2021.

Her deputy, Cllr Eddie Dourley, has served on Halton Borough Council since 2018, representing the Ditton, Hale Village and Halebank ward, and joined the council’s Executive Board earlier this year with responsibility for Corporate Services.