Southport Labour's Chair, Councillor Mhairi Doyle, is stepping down after overseeing one of the most successful periods in the party's history locally.

After five years in the role, she is leaving to concentrate on her newly-appointed position as Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care.

In recent years Labour has gone from strength to strength in Southport, repeatedly bucking the national trend. All elected since 2018, it now boasts seven councillors in the town - only one less than either the Conservatives or Lib Dems have for the whole of Sefton.

The party has also recorded two successive record general election votes, pushing the Lib Dems firmly into third place in both since 2017 - the last producing nearly three times the vote for Labour and the worst general election result in Southport for a liberal candidate of any type since 1902.

Cllr Doyle says she's 'very proud' of the record during her period as Chair, explaining:

"We've shown people that Labour can and does win here. It's been a huge team effort and I'd like to thank everyone from our members, to our activists and to all those who voted for us, for the support they have given."

"I'd be remiss though not to mention the fantastic support I've had from some during my time - such as my CLP Secretary Steve Jowett, who has been a truly wonderful stalwart of Southport Labour for over 30 years, and also my Vice Chair for much of this period, Dave Neary, who has been a wise, calm and reasoned voice in the occasional clamour of politics."

"We've come a long way since 2016 and we have been transformed as a campaigning force and I'd like to pay particular credit to two people for this."

"Firstly, our fantastic Parliamentary Candidate in recent years, Liz Savage, who helped start and guide this process and who has done us really proud."

"Secondly, my now ward colleague, Cllr Greg Myers, who joined us in early 2017 and has been absolutely instrumental in our success through his sheer hard work, skills and advice as our Media Officer, Organiser and our Campaign Coordinator."

"Having seen how our Labour-run council stepped up to help residents during the pandemic, I hope that our success will long continue here so that we can help put Southport back on its feet post-pandemic and look after our town and community."

"Now though feels the right time for me to step down as Chair as I have just been appointed to Sefton's Cabinet with the Children's Social Care portfolio."

"It's a huge brief and a huge privilege to be trusted with this and so I want to give it my all, along with my ward duties in Norwood of course."