Huge energy investment plan set to bring thousands of jobs to Merseyside

By Katie Westwood

Hello from St Paul’s Square.

In today’s edition of the Liverpool Daily Post, ECHO Political Editor Liam Thorp reports on a multi-billion-pound energy plan the government says will create two thousand jobs in our region. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is on Merseyside today, along with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, to confirm ￡21.7 billion of long-term funding for the UK's first large-scale carbon capture sites here and in Teesside. Carbon capture is seen by the government as a crucial technology to help the UK accelerate towards net zero in 2050. The two projects set to receive the funding are HyNet - which will capture emissions from factories and plants in the north west and North Wales, storing them under the seabed in Liverpool Bay - and the East Coast Cluster, which will take emissions from industry in the north east and store them under the North Sea.

Staying with politics, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has defended his decision to accept free tickets to see Taylor Swift and to watch Liverpool FC play. Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, Mayor Rotheram said he was given tickets to see global superstar Taylor Swift when she performed at Anfield earlier this year and had been invited to watch Liverpool play numerous times. The Mayor told Radio Merseyside host Tony Snell that if attending events could help him bring in new foreign direct investment into the Liverpool City Region, then his decision to accept the tickets was justified.?

Summer is long gone, but the glimmer of sunshine expected on Saturday might just entice you to pop out for an ice cream. And where better to buy your confection than the ice cream shop recently crowned the best in the country? This week, ECHO reporter Megan Banner went to The Ice Cream Shop in West Kirby to sample their award-winning desserts. The shop does a roaring trade in experimental flavours, offering everything from West-Indian mango to Cornish cream tea and even bacon and maple syrup.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend.?

Prime Minister announces multi-billion-pound energy plan and two thousand jobs for Liverpool City Region

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will today announce a multi-billion-pound energy plan the government says will create two thousand jobs for local workers.

Sir Keir, who will today visit the region with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, will confirm a huge ￡21.7 billion of long-term funding for the UK's first large-scale carbon capture sites in our region and in Teesside. It is hoped the huge projects will result in thousands of local, skilled jobs and will attract billions of pounds of private investment along the way.

The government has reached a commercial agreement with industry and secured the funding to officially launch carbon capture in the UK. Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technology removes CO2 emissions before they reach the atmosphere and stores them safely underground.

The government says that major funding for the two carbon capture sites will "inject growth into the industrial heartlands of the North West and North East of England" and will directly create 4,000 jobs, supporting 50,000 more in the long-term.

The two projects set to receive the funding are HyNet, which will capture emissions from factories and plants in the north west and North Wales, storing them under the seabed in Liverpool Bay and the East Coast Cluster, which will take emissions from industry in the north east and store them under the North Sea.

Across the two sites, today's announcement confirms up to ￡21.7 billion will be available over a 25-year period. The aim is to make the UK an early leader in both CCUS and storage and hydrogen.

Carbon capture is also seen by the government is a crucial technology to help the UK accelerate towards net zero in 2050. It is hoped that these two new sites will help to remove more than 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year - the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.

Speaking ahead of his visit to our region today, Sir Keir said: "We’re reigniting our industrial heartlands by investing in the industry of the future. For the past 14 years, business has been second-guessing a dysfunctional government – which has set us back and caused an economic slump. ?

"Today’s announcement will give industry the certainty it needs – committing to 25 years of funding in this groundbreaking technology – to help deliver jobs, kickstart growth, and repair this country once and for all.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, MP said: “This game-changing technology will introduce 2,000 valuable jobs and attract billions in private investment to communities across Merseyside, reigniting the North West economy. We are driving growth and investment across the country so we can rebuild Britain and make everyone better off.”?

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Over the past few weeks, we have shown just how much of a hurry we are in to deliver clean, cheap power for families – and to deliver a just transition that delivers good, skilled jobs.

“The North West has a proud history of being at the forefront of the industrial revolution – with HyNet, it is now leading the world in the green energy transition. Carbon capture will create 2,000 jobs in a major boost for the local economy – providing opportunity and spreading prosperity across the region.”

It is hoped that the carbon capture, usage and storage industry can support 50,000 good, skilled jobs as the sector matures in the 2030s as the country transitions away from fossil fuels. The government hopes that an up and running carbon capture industry will add around ￡5 billion per year to the UK economy by 2050.

Welcoming the government’s announcement, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: “Today’s announcement is about reigniting Britain’s industrial heartlands, and the Liverpool City Region is ready to lead the charge. By investing in carbon capture technology, we’re not only cleaning up our environment but also creating thousands of skilled jobs and driving billions of pounds in private investment into our region.

“As the UK’s Renewable Energy Coast, the Liverpool City Region has already positioned itself at the forefront of the green industrial revolution. This commitment takes us another step closer to our ambitious net zero goals. It’s a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when local leaders and government work together, turning environmental challenges into economic opportunities that deliver real growth.

“This will help stop carbon escaping into the atmosphere but, beyond that, it will help to turbocharge our economy and ensure the future is built on sustainable foundations, with good jobs and opportunity for all. The Liverpool City Region is ready to be a driving force for change, both for our environment and our economy.” Read more

Mayor Steve Rotheram defends free Taylor Swift and Liverpool FC tickets

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has defended his decision to accept free tickets to see Taylor Swift and to watch Liverpool FC play. Mayor Rotheram was asked about the free gifts amid an ongoing row involving Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, Mayor Rotheram said he was given tickets to see global superstar Taylor Swift when she performed at Anfield earlier this year and had been invited to watch Liverpool play numerous times.

According to the mayor's official register of gifts and hospitalities, he has accepted tickets to watch Liverpool play at Anfield on seven occasions this year. Some of these were hospitality tickets offered by the club, with other tickets accepted from developers the Sovini Group.

The Mayor told Radio Merseyside host Tony Snell that if attending events could help him bring in new foreign direct investment into the Liverpool City Region, then his decision to accept the tickets was justified. The mayor was being asked about the issue after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer agreed to pay back ￡6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality that he has received since taking the keys to Number 10 Downing Street.

Speaking on the radio station on Wednesday, Mayor Rotheram said: "If we are going to promote the Liverpool City Region then we have to go and meet people on their own terms. So if that's big businesses, then so be it. I have been the guest of Liverpool Football Club on numerous occasions and of Kenny Dalglish, who is my mate.

"I use the opportunity to go round and speak to people to try and sell what we are doing in the Liverpool City Region. So there are those connections. I went to Taylor Swift and it was a freebie. Spoke to people from America who were there.

He added: "If we are going to get foreign direct investment increased - and I have committed to 25% over these next four years - then you need to go out and meet people wherever they are. If they are at Taylor Swift, we need to do that.”

Accepting he would get "stick" for accepting such gifts, he added: "These (critics) are the same people saying 'how come we are behind Manchester or London?', that's because they go out and sell their area - and that's what we need to do. I declare absolutely everything."

Liverpool's Liberal Democrat leader Carl Cashman took issue with Mayor Rotheram's comments. Responding on social media, he said: "What’s right: Liverpool representatives should be having conversations with the USA and China 100% and I won’t condemn Steve or anyone else for that. What’s wrong: You don’t need to go to Taylor Swift or the Liverpool game to speak to a Chinese or American investor."

It was previously revealed that Liverpool MPs Kim Johnson, Dan Carden and Ian Byrne all accepted tickets to see Taylor Swift at her Anfield shows in June. The row over free gifts has dogged the new Labour government in recent weeks after revelations that Sir Keir Starmer and other cabinet members accepted donations from wealthy donors. The Prime Minister's donations included thousands of pounds worth of clothes, glasses and tickets to concerts and football matches. This week the prime minister said it was "right" for him to repay the cost of some gifts. Read more

Best ice cream shop in country is in Merseyside

An ice cream shop in West Kirby has been crowned the best in the country. The Ice Cream Shop West Kirby , best known for its unique flavours and lengthy queues, has won the best ice cream shop of the year 2024 award from E2 Media.

The family-run shop, which first opened on Grange Road in 2020 during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, is owned by John Hughes and his wife Diane. However, the store may seem like any other on the outside, but inside it’s anything but normal.

Although ice cream lovers can expect all of the classic flavours from vanilla and chocolate to mint and strawberry, for those with more experimental taste buds, Ice Cream Shop also offers everything from West-Indian mango to Cornish cream tea and even bacon and maple syrup.

John told the ECHO how "people come from everywhere" to visit the shop , attracting lengthy queues of customers throughout the year. The idea came after John and Diane holidayed in Cyprus and stumbled across "a little old lady who had a 23-scoop freezer."

John said: "We noticed a little run-down shack with shutters and in it was this old lady selling ice cream. She had a huge selection to choose from and she seemed so content running a business out of what was essentially nothing. I turned to Diane and I said, 'I could do that'.”

From there John and Diane turned their dream into an award-winning ice cream shop. Upon winning the best ice cream shop of the year 2024 award last month (September), John said: “The award came out of the blue, we weren't expecting it. We are very proud of ourselves and we’re absolutely thrilled.

“We're just a little ice cream shop in West Kirby and to be recognised by all the big operations in our industry is unbelievable to be honest. It has been an amazing year for us.”?

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