New political party in Liverpool aiming to take on established order

The deputy chairman of a Liverpool community football club standing in an upcoming city by-election is set to form a new political party in the city.

Peter Furmedge, who is also the finance director at City of Liverpool FC, is among those setting up Beacon Liverpool while trying to take a council seat in Kirkdale off the ruling Labour group in a vote next month.

He will face off against candidates from the Conservatives, the Green Party, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition in a by-election on November 18.

The Kirkdale council seat has become available after long serving Labour Councillor Malcolm Kennedy quit the council as he continues to live in Spain.

Beacon Liverpool’s four leaders have now submitted an application to the Electoral Commission to officially form a new political party, though it is expected this will be completed after the by-election.

It platform is set to include support for an expansion of council housing, an increase in community land ownership and investment in a “Green New Deal” in the city.

Mr Furmedge said he had been a long-standing resident in the area and has been involved in community activism for years.

He said: “I’ve always been interested in and involved in community activism, without ever wanting to be a politician. But there is only so long that any of us can talk about what has gone wrong and watch it happen without stepping up. As a resident, with friends and family across Kirkdale, I believe I can make a difference.

“It’s on all of us to play an active role in shaping our community and participating in our local politics and Beacon Liverpool will be a vehicle for that. This is not about another politician promising to do things to an area, this is about someone wanting to move political barriers so that we can all collectively bring about the changes we want and that Kirkdale needs to see.

“My experience in the community, and in supporting and enabling community action, together with my commitment to the area, are what I will bring to the table and I’m confident that Beacon Liverpool can change politics for Kirkdale, and the city as a whole, for the better.”

Mr Furmedge said Beacon would be a municipalist party and look to hold citizens’ assemblies to open up the democratic process.

The full list of candidate is in Kirkdale is below:

Roger Bannister, Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition

Kate Burgess, The Conservatives

Maria Coughlan for the Green Party,

Dave Hanratty, Labour

Peter Furmedge

Jenny Turner, Liberal Democrats