Patrick Christys delivers his verdict on Keir Starmer's first year in Government
GB News
One mayor feels there is a 'lack of connectivity between different bits' of the Government
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Regional mayors have accused Sir Keir Starmer's Government of being "disjointed" from the rest of the party, with one blaming No10 for conducting "a mess of our own making".
After a year in power, Labour is "winding up" people with consistent mistakes, according to the Labour mayor of the Liverpool city region, Steve Rotheram.
After winning by a landslide 12 months ago under the message for "change", Rotheram said people could forgive the odd error.
However, with the major U-turns over Winter Fuel Payments and the benefits bill, the mayor believes Starmer's Government looks like "a mess".
Steve Rotheram has accused the Government of 'winding up' people
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Rotheram, who has been Liverpool city region mayor since 2017, said: "What I think has exacerbated this feeling by many, not just politicians but people around the country, who look at this and think it's a mess. Well, it's a mess of our own making.
"We could have avoided some of this by just listening to some of the people in the party who want to support Starmer, want to support Labour, but are finding it difficult because the mistakes are made, and they could have been avoided."
The mayor believes that it is not "necessarily about" Starmer or the Prime Minister's team, but he does feel there is a "lack of connectivity between different bits of the party".
The Labour mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, feels the same, insisting the Prime Minister puts the devolution of power at the centre of his agenda.
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Brabin said: "The devolution revolution has been all too quickly forgotten by some [Government] departments."
Despite mayors "driving incredible change for our communities, bringing growth, hope and optimism", Brabin worries that the party is becoming disconnected.
The former Shadow Culture Secretary said Labour had an opportunity to earn the trust back with voters, who'd "lost confidence in politicians' ability to improve their lives" by backing mayors.
Labour mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard took a different approach to his work, saying that ministers seemed "genuinely interested" in the issues in his area.
Oliver Coppard felt Labour ministers were 'genuinely interested'
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Coppard said it was "chalk and cheese" compared to the Tories' "absolute shambles".
He said: "The difference is I think this Government listens, and I hope this Government learns.
"That certainly seems to be the case. I want things to go better, of course I do, because what's good for South Yorkshire is good for this country and vice versa."