“I can’t pay for everything. You have to think about what you pay every month to keep the wolf from your door. It’s not living, it’s trying to exist" As council tax goes up in Wirral tomorrow, I hit the streets yesterday to find out what people think www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A little life update as all good things must come to an end. After 3.5 years working with the fabulous team at @liverpoolecho.co.uk, it is time to move on. However I am incredibly excited and looking forward to join @manchestereveningnews.co.uk covering Oldham and Stockport at the beginning of May!

The boss of a Wirral memorial business banned from working in cemeteries has been accused of leaving grieving families in tears, misleading customers, and “destroying a company name”. Thomas Smith denies the accusations against him Full story: www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A man who ran one of Wirral’s oldest businesses until it closed said he has nothing to do with Mackie Memorials, a business that has been suspended from operating in Wirral's cemeteries. www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Mystery solved in Wirral village after complaints www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A “racially abusive” neighbour who “intimidated” others has been banned from a Birkenhead property for three months. Wirral Council said those living in the area had also complained of alleged “indecent exposure”. www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

New charges for 22 car parks across Wirral, which are currently free, have been delayed. Deputy council leader Cllr Julie McManus said there needed to be a further review as a 2023 parking policy might no longer be fit for purpose. www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

BREAKING: Joey Barton charged with attack www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

People pushing £5bn plans right through the Wirral have been told to “take your pipe and stuff it wherever you like”. www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

BREAKING: Merseyside's "oldest memorial and headstone business" has been banned from Wirral's cemeteries after operating for 138 years www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Exclusive: Nelson Shardey was made a British citizen today. He told me he now feels a weight has been lifted off his shoulders and he is “free like a bird” The “local legend” saw thousands come to his aid in 2024 in his fight against the Home Office www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Covering for one of my colleagues, I dipped my toe into politics over the water making my way up to Bootle to see what Sefton Council were up to as they set their budget www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Exclusive: Nelson Shardey was made a British citizen today. He told me he now feels a weight has been lifted off his shoulders and he is “free like a bird” The “local legend” saw thousands come to his aid in 2024 in his fight against the Home Office www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Top financial bosses have laid out the grim reality if Wirral declared bankruptcy but this now looks unlikely as four parties in Wirral move forward a balanced budget The Greens labelled it cruel and even suggested asking for a bigger bailout to avoid cuts www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Councillors are pushing for an emergency debate over plans to put a 200km pipe through Wirral www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A former council staff member may have been promoted to a top role despite not being qualified for the job, a new report suggests. Marcus Shaw was appointed as Wirral Council’s interim regeneration director in 2024 but left in August 2025 www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A Merseyside council has seen a £63m loss in value related to two new office buildings. The massive loss is one of the many things revealed in a critical report into the local authority’s finances www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A Merseyside council has been given four legal orders amid warnings the authority is heading towards financial crisis. Independent inspectors also said they’d been told Wirral Council is “an unpleasant place to work” with “a toxic atmosphere” www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Government promises to write off £55m of council's debt www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Leaked emails show council leader told off over 'conflict' by boss www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Just posting to say I’m not due to be back in work until January 19. Any stories in the meantime, please pass onto my brilliant colleagues at the Echo. Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!

One interesting aside from tonight's meeting is a driver's comment he thought a council officer had died. For the full story why... www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A “rogue builder” who “charmed” a family with promises to renovate their home has been convicted of fraud and ordered to pay thousands of pounds. One of his victims told a Liverpool court she had been pushed into a state of depression by the situation www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A married couple have been found guilty after the noise from their barking dogs “took over” their neighbours’ lives. Stephen and Layla McGuigan have been told to pay more than £7,000 in total following complaints over their 14 dogs www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

ICYMI the council has taken a major step forward on Hoylake Beach with some plants set to be cleared next year. The latest twist has been welcomed by Wirral Council's leader @PaulaBasnett1, environment chair @lizgrey_ and Conservatives too www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Wirral Council is in talks over the future of the burned-out Central Hotel in Birkenhead and an update has been given on the new Dock Branch Park. The latest on regeneration from the council www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Merseyside council to revisit parking charges after legal challenge www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

It’s been two years since I last attempted to get around the Wirral on a bus. Why am I doing this you may ask? Well the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be looking to bring buses back under public control in 2026. So I decided to get first hand experience and see what people think

Report reveals which former South Yorkshire and West Midlands Police officers would face disciplinary proceedings

NEW: Bettison, Duckenfield and all the former police officers who would have gross misconduct cases to answer over Hillsborough disaster

BREAKING: New police cover up details surrounding Hillsborough disaster revealed in major new investigation Landmark report confirms appalling actions of police officers from two forces before, during and after 1989 tragedy led to the unlawful killing of 97 Liverpool fans Full story:

People have been told they should be proud of the “extraordinary”, “wonderful”, and “fabulous service” Merseyrail provides. Conservatives last night pointed to high reliability and customer satisfaction data when arguing against public ownership www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

BREAKING: Paul Doyle trial live as LFC parade accused appears in court www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A married couple have been accused of letting their dogs “go berserk” by neighbours who said the situation has become “horrible." Stephen and Layla McGuigan deny they breached a noise abatement notice and suggested it may have been other dogs in the area www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A “toxic” and “broken” system from the top down ignored red flags and led to major failures that have now trashed a Merseyside council’s reputation, a critical review finds www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

This week could be a crossroads for Wirral Council as a critical review of regeneration projects is expected to be published. Here's some analysis from me about the key challenges that lie ahead as the local authority looks to move on www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A Merseyside council faces an estimated £20m black hole in its budget next year and could be forced to request another government. Despite the challenges, Leader Cllr Paula Basnett said she was working with all parties to fix Wirral Council's finances www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

I can now reveal the Pyramids has lost millions of pounds in value since Wirral Council bought it www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

People are being told not to turn up to a popular Bonfire Night event in Merseyside after the bonfire was built too big www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A dad with a newborn baby fears he may end up on the streets after receiving a “scary” warning from his landlord. Jon Finch feels he has put his head on the chopping block after volunteering to organise a community bonfire www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A council that bought two shopping centres in Birkenhead for £10.5m has been ordered to reveal how much they are worth following an appeal by @liverpoolecho.co.uk www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Questions being asked about what happened before park set on fire www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

There's been a lot of anger over this but the Upton British Legion Branch told me they understood Wirral Council's position and urged people to go to events in Hamilton Square and across Wirral However the decision has also been criticised by Reform www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Two fires set alight weeks before Bonfire Night after ‘misunderstanding’ www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

People have said they feel trapped on a Merseyside estate due to a “dangerous” parking problem that is only getting worse www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

One, don't pick up the phone... www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

A public space protection order has been in place on the Woodchurch for nearly three years www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

One councillor said they were there to listen to what the public had to say www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Attempts to take national flags down in one area of Merseyside have been defended by a local politician who said they had left people “feeling targeted, confused and scared.” www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

BREAKING: The landmark legislation will hold public officials and authorities accountable for their actions www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...