All eyes were on Liverpool's greatest success story once again

Not for the first time in 2023, Liverpool's waterfront was the centre of attention this week.

Liverpool had dazzled during the heady days of Eurovision in May - the match between the city and the song contest was one made in heaven. Stepping in to host the event on behalf of Ukraine, the city's Pier Head came alive as Scousers and tourists flocked to the EuroVillage to revel in the joy and madness.

Now, the gathering of the Labour Party for its annual conference may have been a more serious affair than Eurovision - though there was a splash of glitter and sparkle this year. However, once again, it put our waterfront front and centre.

Liverpool's ACC hosted the main event from Sunday (October 8) to Wednesday (October 11), while venues around the Albert Dock and the city centre held fringe events. It was the second year of three in a row that Labour has descended on our city - one of its left-wing heartlands - for this event.

Until the heavens opened on Wednesday, the unseasonably mild weather - with the occasional presence of sun - allowed the waterfront to shine during the conference. That said, the red banners and Union flags of Labour's branding couldn't quite compete with the myriad colours of Eurovision.

Nonetheless, as the suits and briefcases made their way around the secure zone of the ACC, Liverpool's city centre looked like it meant business. An attractive, modern city, it was perfectly at home with hosting Labour for its showpiece event.

The beauty of the city centre was not lost by those in attendance either. Though it occasionally came across with a tone of surprise, countless journalists and delegates took to X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) to share their appreciation of Liverpool.

That felt important. As it hosted the party that many believe will form the next government, it was vital that Liverpool showed what it can be as a city.

Labour spent the entire event in a confident mood. The party is now a slick and competent political operation that boasts a healthy lead in the polls and is very happy to be taking the fight to Rishi Sunak's beleaguered Conservatives in a general election.

Few would bet against Keir Starmer ending Labour's time in opposition when that election comes. Whether it happens next summer or slightly after, it means Labour's general election campaign will have taken off from the success story of Liverpool's regeneration.

The Albert Dock was once emblematic of the struggles faced by the city of Liverpool. After enduring wartime damage and reeling from industrial decline, a loss in trade closed the dock in 1972 as it fell into disrepair.

The Merseyside Development Corporation and the rather unlikely figure of Michael Heseltine worked to rejuvenate the many docks around the city in the 1980s, while Liverpool was enduring its toughest days. The 1984 Tall Ships Race and Granada Television's move to the Albert Dock began that process before the 1988 arrival of the Tate gallery kicked matters up another gear.

Now boasting an enviable combination of museums, bars, pubs and restaurants, the Albert Dock is one of Liverpool's many jewels. It overcame the dilapidated state it once found itself in to become the catalyst of the city's post-1980s rebirth.

The rustic industrial charm of the dock now sits with the elegance of the Three Graces alongside modern buildings - including the ACC itself - on Liverpool's world famous waterfront. It is evidence of what our city can be when given a chance.

You would hope that was not lost on the (likely) future government when they spent time there this week.

Further up the river, one of the biggest regeneration projects in the country is currently taking place. Everton FC's new stadium at Bramley-Moore will spell the beginning of a new era for the Blues and hopefully provide the focal point of the new start for the city's Northern Docks, which have been looking for their post-industrial purpose for some time now.

Though this city region is full of thriving and proud communities, certain areas are still searching for their moment in the spotlight. However, they haven't been able to find the resources to facilitate that - there are many projects across Merseyside which have been overlooked for levelling up funding under this government.

Earlier this year, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram called the process "nothing more than a beauty contest", where areas in need of cash have to take each other on in a bidding process. However, it seems matters would change under a new government.

When Sir Keir came into the ECHO office last month, he said he wanted local places and people to be able to decide what works for them, rather than the government taking bids and deciding which project to fund. The Labour conference also offered promise in that area, with further devolution looking to be on the table.

Sir Keir said his government would give all councils and combined authorities in England the power and funding to drive improvements in their local economies. That can only be good news for Liverpool and Merseyside.

No longer would the regeneration of Bootle Strand have to go up against Everton Library's bid for funding in a national contest - the city region would hopefully be given the funding to form its own future.

When given care, resources and attention, this region can thrive. After the party spent the week among the best example of that, I hope a Labour government could help deliver the next wave of rejuvenation for Liverpool.

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