London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson steps aside amid bribery probe

Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson steps aside amid bribery probe

The mayor of Liverpool has stepped aside following his arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

Joe Anderson said he was "stepping away from decision-making" and would take unpaid leave while the investigation continued.

He said his arrest on Friday was a "painful shock" and he believed "time would make it clear that I have no case to answer".

He was released on conditional bail.

Year-long inquiry


Mr Anderson and four others, including Derek Hatton, the former deputy leader of the council, were held as part of an investigation into the awarding of building contracts in the city.

The year-long police inquiry, Operation Aloft, focussed on a number of property developers.

Liverpool City Council's chief executive Tony Reeves met Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick on Monday and the government later requested the authority reveal its planned commercial property deals.

In a statement, Mr Anderson said: "I have always done what I believe is best for the city, and I am taking the following action with those best intentions in mind."

He said it was "important" that everyone in Liverpool knew leaders were "focussed on what is most important to the people, their livelihoods and, with a pandemic still in force, their lives".


Liverpool City Council was asked to reveal all its proposed property deals to the government

Mr Anderson added: "For this reason, I believe it is important that the city, and government, are reassured that our city is indeed operating in the correct way.

"I am, therefore, stepping away from decision-making within the council through a period of unpaid leave, until the police make clear their intentions with the investigation on the 31 December."

Deputy mayor Wendy Simon will now become interim mayor.

The council's Liberal Democrat opposition leader Richard Kemp said Mr Anderson had made "almost the right decision" to step away from the city's affairs.

He added: "His resignation would have been an even cleaner break".

Mr Kemp also tweeted: "Relationships with the government and the private sector would be very difficult whilst the city's political leader is under a cloud."

He said the situation had shown up the "worst of the mayoral system" and his party would submit a motion to end that system and return to a modern committee system "in which there are checks and balances".


Derek Hatton, the former deputy leader of the council, was also arrested on Friday


Local Green Party leader Tom Crone said he welcomed Mr Anderson's decision.

He tweeted: "Stand-in mayor Wendy Simon must act swiftly to restore trust in local democracy. Share power across a cabinet of all the parties to see us out of this health, financial and political crisis."

Ms Simon said her "number one" priority was "steering this great city and its people through the pandemic and preparing for the recovery".

She said while she was acting mayor she wanted to "create a city that has equal opportunities for all" and "establish a platform of confidence" to reassure investors.

Father-of-four Mr Anderson was elected in 2012, having been a Labour councillor since 1998.

He said he was "very grateful" for messages of support and had "faith" that Liverpool's future was "bright" and the city's "best days" lay ahead.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×