Liverpool

I read David Swift’s Scouse Republic alongside Michael Heseltine’s breezily optimistic account of urban regeneration, From Acorns to Oaks. It’s impossible to deny that the city has brilliantly swerved the abyss of “managed decline”. It’s now a hen-night destination, a regular stop-off for luxury cruises, a seat of learning. The Georgian Quarter, with its cobbled streets shining under Narnian lamp-posts, is one of the most popular filming locations in the country. But Swift’s account of that voyage from chaotic sailor town to imperial port, from the Beatles to the Toxteth uprising, does not look away from the dark and stormy passages. If you ever feel tempted to flirt with trickle-down economics, remind yourself that in 1841, when the city was the premier port of the empire after London, life expectancy in Liverpool was 26. Seventy-five per cent of the lads who volunteered for army service were rejected for being unfit.

This is a highly personal book. Swift’s Israeli in-laws provide the story with a baffled chorus. He has a terrific eye for the telling detail. I will forever be quoting his story about how, in 1904, trumpet-tongued Jim Larkin – hero of the Belfast dock strike – buried a letter “to the future socialist society” in a biscuit tin underneath the foundation stone of the Anglican cathedral. There are chapters on the origin of the scouse accent, a short history of Eric’s nightclub, observations on the significance of Jürgen Klopp’s Christianity and a long overdue analysis of that weird cocktail of truth, disinformation and racism – the legend of Purple Aki, an intimidatingly large body builder of Nigerian origin whose possibly harmless but unnerving kink is asking young men if he can feel their muscles. A lot of people think he’s an urban myth.

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The title – Scouse Republic – nods towards Liverpool exceptionalism of the “scouse not English” type. But if Liverpool is so exceptional, why should a non-scouser want to read this? For one thing, because scouse exceptionalism – the idea that the city is too different, too socialist – is a myth that Swift takes to pieces in a chapter called Good Rioters, Bad Socialists. Liverpool is different. It experienced large-scale immigration long before most of the country. It experienced the loss of empire more directly. In David Goodhart’s world of Somewheres v Anywheres, scousers – myself included – are definitely Somewheres.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/24659751

Mayor Steve Rotheram has urged people to contribute to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), saying there has been "a worrying decline in our habitats and biodiversity" over the past decades.

"The Local Nature Recovery Strategy is about turning the tide, identifying the best ways to restore and enhance habitats, and ensuring that nature can thrive across our region."

Local officials say the area has experienced a 5% loss of land habitats since the 1980s "including 10% of its most biodiverse grasslands".

The Attorney General has rejected calls for the Court of Appeal to review the length of Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana's jail sentence.

Rudakubana, 18, is serving a minimum 52-year sentence for the murder of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, in Southport in July 2024.

At his sentencing, the judge said Rudakubana, who was 17 when he carried out the attacks, would have been given a whole life prison order had he been an adult at the time.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, Lord Hermer KC said after "careful consideration" he had "concluded that this case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal".

He added that no one would want the families to be put through an unnecessary further court process "where there is no realistic legal basis for an increased sentence".

Rudakubana's minimum term of 52 years means that he cannot be considered for release until he has served that amount of time in prison.

Lord Hermer said Rudakubana's sentence was the "second-longest sentence imposed by the courts in English history".

He added: "Rudakubana will likely never be released and will spend the rest of his life in jail."

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/23267747

The Mersey Forest is seeking public input on its new long-term strategy, More With Trees.

It aims to transform Cheshire and Merseyside by increasing tree cover, improving woodlands, and encouraging community involvement in nature-based activities.

The consultation is live until March 2, 2025.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/23250816

The first Mersey Margins Collective Comics Fair taking place next month at Future Yard CIC in Birkenhead is shaping up into a smashing showcase for comic creators.

Organised entirely by young people through the Marginal Changemakers project, the event is set to champion diversity, inclusion, and community within the comics industry.

Tickets are free but must be booked in advance via Comics Youth Eventbrite.

Taking place on Saturday 15th February 2025, the day includes free workshops like “Comics and Mental Health” with Bex Ollerton and “Comics and Climate Justice” with Emma Reynolds. There’s also a panel on “Comics and Identity” featuring creators like Lewis Hancox and Julian Gray (subject of the solo Lowry exhibition “Stories for Us”), delving into how comics empower marginalised voices.

The event will also showcase the work of twelve early-career comics artists from across the Liverpool City Region will exhibit their work, including Cara Brown, named one of Broken Frontier’s 2025 “Six to Watch.”

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/21723326

A man who featured in a viral video of him being hit in the crotch and head by bricks during the Southport riot has been jailed.

Brian Spencer was first hit in the head by a brick thrown by a fellow rioter as he goaded a line of riot police on 30 July.

As he held his head, he was then hit by a second brick directly in the crotch, causing him to stagger in the street.

The 40-year-old, of Lytham Road, Southport, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown to violent disorder and was jailed for two years and six months.

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Spencer also admitted a separate offence of racially aggravated harassment.

Merseyside Police said his injuries were captured on mobile phone footage which was shared widely on social media after "some wayward missiles" hit him during the "appalling scenes" in Southport.

A police spokesperson said Spencer "could be seen acting in an aggressive manner" as part of a large group of people who were standing in front of police officers and throwing bricks.

Spencer was also seen "punching a police vehicle several times and picking up and throwing wheelie bins" at officers, police said.

Merseyside Police said its officers were later called to hospital after injured Spencer racially abused another patient while he was receiving treatment for his head injury.

A police spokesperson said the "officers recognised him from the viral social media footage" and he was arrested.

Previously:

• Instant karma

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/23462341

It is known across Liverpool as the Radio City tower but that moniker may not be around much longer as the structure hosts its final live broadcast on Christmas Eve.

Microphone cables are being bundled up and heaving contacts books packed into boxes, leaving empty what is arguably the most famous building of the city’s skyline – St Johns Beacon, to use its proper name.

Built in 1969, originally as a luxury revolving restaurant that was one visited by Queen Elizabeth II, the tower was listed Grade II in 2020, with Historic England describing it as “embodying the technological bravura and spirit of the space age”.

Elon Musk has strong links with Merseyside thanks to his paternal grandmother, who was born and brought up in Liverpool. The tech billionaire's nan, Cora Robinson, was born on Bridge Road in Mossley Hill in August 1923, eventually leaving England to settle in South Africa, where she married Walter Musk in 1944.

Cora was the mum of Errol Musk, Elon's dad. According to Errol, Cora "grew up in poverty" in pre-war Liverpool. He said the family was "quite hard up" during her childhood, but that she and her siblings were part of a "proud, hard-working family". Cora’s sister reportedly died of scarlet fever when she was six.

In an interview with the Mirror in 2022, Errol recalled taking a young Elon to Merseyside for family holidays in the 1970s. Errol told the Sunday Mirror: "The first time I took Elon to England was when he was six years old. He loved going to Wimbledon. He also loved going to the fruit fields in the summer and picking strawberries."

On one family trip, Errol dropped Elon off at a playground in Wirral, where he claims his son disappeared, sparking a police search. "We called the police and the search for him went on until 10pm," said Errol. "Then the phone rang and it was Liverpool police saying they’d got him. He was 10 miles from the park and was with this lady. She told the police she was giving him milk and biscuits, and he was watching the television."