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Metro Mayor Appoints
Fairness Tsar
LIVERPOOL City Region Metro Mayor Steve
Rotheram has announced the appointment of TUC Regional Secretary Lynn Collins,
as Chair of his Fairness and Social Justice Advisory Board. Mr Rotheram
said:- "In my manifesto I pledged to put fairness and social justice
centre stage. Bringing in someone with Lynn's credibility and track record of
fighting poverty and its causes demonstrates my determination to deliver on this
pledge. I am delighted that Lynn has agreed to take on this role to be our 'critical friend', as we get to work on increasing prosperity in a way that must
benefit all across the City Region." Lynn has headed up the Trades Union
Congress in the North West since 2013, the 1st woman to hold that position,
representing the region's 800,000 unionised workers in over 50 different trades
unions. Prior to her appointment as TUC Regional Secretary Lynn worked as a
senior trades unionist, playing an active role promoting equality and tackling
disadvantage and poverty. New fairness tsar Lynn Collins said:-
"This is an exciting time for the Liverpool City Region. The new Combined
Authority and the election of Steve Rotheram as our Metro Mayor means there is a
real chance to improve livelihoods. I am really pleased to have been asked to
take on this role. Fairness and social justice needs to extend across our entire
region in workplaces and throughout our communities. It should mean great jobs
and education for all. And an economic strategy that leaves no 1 behind."
The Metro Mayor's election manifesto pledged to establish an advisory board to
give a voice to social groups who may face discrimination or disadvantage, as
well as bringing together representatives from the social economy, faith and
community groups, businesses, trades unions and young people. Steve Rotheram
said:- "The advisory board is designed to provide independent advice and
counsel on the work of the Combined Authority to ensure that what we are doing
delivers against our commitment to build a fairer and more equal City Region.
The idea with the advisory board is that it doesn't just produce a series of
recommendations and then disband, but instead becomes 'part of the furniture' at
the Combined Authority, permanently holding our feet to the fire on a core
commitment." The Metro Mayor believes that a commitment to
fairness is 1 of the things that will help the City Region to prosper in the
future, pointing to the success of cities like Portland and Seattle in the US,
Zurich in Switzerland and Copenhagen in Denmark. "That is 1 reason why we
are focusing on 'inclusive economic growth,' promoting fairness, developing
skills, supporting radical new approaches to homelessness and signing the Armed
Forces Covenant. It's about making sure that every person and every community
has a chance to thrive in a fair and ambitious City Region." The
other 11 members of the Fairness and Social Justice Advisory Board, who will
come from each area of the Liverpool City Region, will be announced in the next
few weeks so that the inaugural meeting can be held in the autumn.
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