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75th Holocaust Memorial Day

WE remember the 6 million plus Jewish men, women and children who lost their lives at the hands of the Nazis and all the victims of persecution and genocide on what is the 75th Holocaust Memorial Day.

PCC starts search for next Merseyside Police Chief Constable

MERSEYSIDE'S Police Commissioner, on 27 January 2021, has started the process of recruiting the next Chief Constable for Merseyside Police. Jane Kennedy is inviting applications from candidates to take responsibility for leading the Force following the announcement, on Friday, 22 January 2021, that Andy Cooke QPM is to retire, as Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, to take up a new appointment, details of which will be released in due course. The Commissioner is looking for an outstanding individual who has the experience, drive and skill to lead the best performing urban Police Force in the country and who can continue to shape the future of Policing on a Regional and national level.

Potential candidates will be expected to demonstrate strong leadership skills coupled with integrity, commitment and clear strategic thinking. They will need to communicate a strong vision for the Force, ensuring they can maintain and strengthen Merseyside Police's reputation as one of the most dynamic and forward thinking Forces in the country. The successful candidate will be expected to be an influential ambassador for both the Force and the Region.

The closing date for applications is 5pm, on 19 February 2021, with interviews and assessment, including a media exercise, taking place, on the week commencing 1 March 2021. With the assistance of an interview panel including Senior National Police figures, the Commissioner will then announce her preferred candidate for the position.

The appointment process will then be reviewed by Merseyside's Police and Crime Panel, who will also hold a confirmation hearing to assess and confirm the suitability of the candidate. Jane Kennedy said:- "Following the announcement that Andy Cooke QPM is leaving his post, I now have the responsibility of securing the appointment of the next leader of Merseyside Police. It is critically important that a big, busy Police Force like Merseyside has certainty about its future direction. It falls to me to deliver that certainty to the best of my ability. With uncertainty still surrounding the date of the election of the next PCC, and the ongoing challenges of the Covid19 epidemic, it is important that we find Andy Cooke's successor quickly. This is essential to give the entire organisation and its workforce the stability and direction it needs. Merseyside Police is renowned for leading the way in delivering excellent Policing and I am looking for another exceptional individual who has the energy, ambition and expertise to fill the large shoes left by the departure of Andy Cooke. The successful candidate will need skill and experience to navigate the complex and evolving Policing landscape to ensure Merseyside Police remains 1 of Britain's top performing Forces. It is what the public of Merseyside expect. The new Chief Constable will need to have the influence and gravitas to maintain and strengthen the Force's reputation locally, Regionally and nationally and be a powerful ambassador for our Region. Andy Cooke has been a 1st class Chief Constable and is recognised as one the most experienced and knowledgeable Police chiefs in the country. He will certainly be a tough act to follow, but I am looking for a replacement who is equally exceptional and who has the skills, personal attributes and ability to lead this fine Force."

Applicants must have passed the Senior Police National Assessment Centre and successfully completed the Strategic Command Course. Both UK Police officers and holders of senior rank in designated overseas Police Forces are eligible. The appointment will be on a 5 year fixed term basis and the salary, which is determined by the Secretary of State following consideration by the Police Remuneration Review Body, is ₤177,120. More details and the application form can be found at:- MerseysidePCC.Info/CCRecruitment.

Bill Esterson MP highlights case of Formby Teacher at PMQs

THE Sefton Central MP, Bill Esterson, has highlighted the case of constituent:- "excluded" Alison Powell from Formby at Prime Minister's Questions. Alison, who runs a business providing language clubs in Schools, earned ₤10 more from employed income than self employed income in the 2018/19 tax year; which means she has not qualified for the Government's Coronavirus self employed income support scheme. Alison was not employed in a salaried role at the time of the national Lockdowns in March and October, so she has not qualified for furlough. All her income from April 2019 has been from self employment

Mr Esterson said Alison was 1 of the 3 million plus:- "excluded," who had not been entitled to any financial support through the Pandemic. Alison retired as a Teacher at the age of 60 prior to starting her new business. When Schools closed during the 1st Lockdown her income was reduced to nil, and she was shocked to find she didn't qualify for any Government support. When Schools reopened in Sept she was able to deliver some classes, but these were limited in numbers due to class and year group bubbles.

Now the Schools are closed again. Ironically, she has 1 member of staff who she has been able to furlough, yet she is still unable to claim any financial support for herself. Alison said:- "I feel cheated; by my calculations I've missed out on about ₤8,000. I could show instantly what income I have lost due to the Pandemic but the Treasury says it is too complicated to change the scheme to help those of us who have not qualified. I got a small discretionary grant from Sefton Council of ₤1,500 which was very welcome but doesn't go anywhere near covering what I have lost. In the tax year of 18/19 I worked more in employment than self-employed but I then left that job so that I could try to make my own way. My employed income is no more use to me now so why are they using it against me to stop me claiming the self employed grant. All of my income now is from self employment. Don't the Government want people to break out on their own and be entrepreneurs?"

Mr Esterson said:- "I raised Alison's case in PMQs because it is a good example of the arbitrary and unfair way that the Chancellor's support schemes have operated. It is no good the Prime Minister saying the Government are doing:- 'whatever it takes' and putting their 'arms around the country' when three million people have been left with no work and so little Government support."

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine dives deaper divides with the EU

DESPITE the UK being the 1st country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, along with the Oxford/AstraZeneca and the Moderna vaccines, along with Brexit has put the UK on collision course with the EU, especially as the UK has also rolled it out several weeks before the EU, vaccinations. A day after UK Government death toll surpasses 100,000, this is not good news for the UK.

As the UK didn't take part in the EU vaccine scheme, as it was still in the Brexit transition period over 2020 and that the UK signed a separate deal with AstraZeneca, 3 months earlier than the EU, has lead to Pfizer telling the EU it would not able to supply them with promised the EU by the end of 2020, but could still do the UK's deal. This is down to production issues with its ramping up its manufacturing capacity at its Belgian processing plant. The Anglo Swedish company added that it will been able to meet the level of supply required for the UK, as the contract was signed before the EU.

The EU has currently authorised 2 vaccines for distribution, manufactured by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna. As a result of the delay the European Commission has threatened to slap tight controls on exports of a key Covid vaccine after a row exploded over supply. It is now demanding the firm diverts doses from Britain to supply the bloc with the European Commission President Urusula von der Leyen issuing a warning to the pharmaceutical firms that the EU "means business" when it comes to obtaining its "fair share" of vaccine doses.

Today, Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, rejected suggestions that UK supplies would be diverted to the EU. Also, Boris Johnson has insisted that he is "total confidence" that the UK's supply of Covid19 vaccines will not be affected, despite EU threats to block exports of the jab from European factories.

Improvements pledged to boost 4G rural coverage

RESPONDING to news that 3 mobile operators have joined Forces to boost rural coverage, CLA President Mark Bridgeman said:- "News that mobile operators will deliver the 1st stage of the Shared Rural Network will enhance the lives of millions of people living in the countryside and will provide a much needed boost to rural productivity, which is 16% below the national average. Only 66% of rural areas currently have good access to 4G coverage, with only a 1% improvement recorded last year. This agreement will hopefully speed up the process of increased coverage being rolled out, and the improvement will help unlock investment in the rural economy. Better coverage could also see more businesses start up or re-locate to the countryside, creating new jobs as the country emerges from the Covid19 crisis. But that will only happen if the proposed timescales are fulfilled."

The news comes as the Government launches a consultation on whether reforms to the Electronic Communications Code are needed to ensure that the deployment, upgrading and sharing of digital infrastructure, such as phone masts, can happen as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 25,308 cases and the total number now stand at:- 3,715,054 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:-1,725 within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 101,887, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 103,602.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 37,605. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 3,961 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 3,082.

In England, there are a total of:- 3,248,215 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 511,261 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

Area and number of confirmed cases:- Risen by:-

Liverpool City Region

Nation Lockdown

National UK Restrictions

► Liverpool, 42,456 confirmed cases.
293

► Halton, 10,321 confirmed cases.
97

► Knowsley, 15,116 confirmed cases. 137

► Sefton, 20,566 confirmed cases.
161

► St. Helens, 14,063 confirmed cases.
149

► Wirral, 21,337 confirmed cases.

187

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 100 100 to 199 200 & over

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within Local Authorities around the Liverpool City Region, since start of the Pandemic, are as follows:-

► Blackburn with Darwen, 15,454 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 7,837 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 21,090 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 14,526 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 17,342 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 18,139 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 82,155 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 44,664 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 19,640 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 11,144 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 17,835 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 19,280 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 16,966 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 14,914 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 14,024 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 15,163 confirmed cases

► Wigan, 24,383 confirmed cases..

Total UK people who have received vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

7,164,387 474,156

Jab Stats correct as of 26 January 2021

The vaccination programme began on 8 December 2020 with people receiving the vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech, and people began receiving the Oxford University / AstraZeneca vaccine from 4 January 2021. Both vaccines are given as 2 doses, at least 21 days apart, for a full vaccination course.

Daily reported Covid19 deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the 1st laboratory confirmed positive Covid19 test. Daily and cumulative numbers of Covid19 patients admitted to Hospital. Data are not updated every day by all 4 nations and the figures are not comparable as Wales include suspected Covid19 patients while the other nations include only confirmed cases.

The latest R number is estimated at:- 0.8 to 1 with a daily infection growth rate range of:- -4% to -1%, as of 22 January 2021.

Previous 24hr Data

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