05/05/2010

Synopsis

In the final BBC Radio Merseyside election debate, we look at the constituency of Liverpool Riverside.

We're hoping you too will take part. Just call 0151 709 933, text 07786 209333 or email roger.phillips@bbc.co.uk

Joining Roger Phillips today will be prospective parliamentary candidates Louise Ellman for Labour, Richard Marbrow for the Liberal Democrats, Kegang Wu for the Conservatives and Tom Crone from the Green Party.

Also standing are Pat Gaskell for the UK Independence Party and Peter Stafford for the British National Party.

Labour has maintained is position within this seat for a number of decades and even in the 1980s secured majorities around the 20,000 mark. Louise Ellman became the MP in 1997 and has remained so ever since. In both 2001 and 2005, the seat had the lowest voter turnout of any in the UK.
At this election, the seat gains two part-wards from Liverpool Wavertree, and a part-ward each from Liverpool Garston and Liverpool Walton. It loses one part-ward each to Liverpool Wavertree and Liverpool Walton.

The seat includes Liverpool city centre with its cathedrals and universities, and the waterfront stretching from the working port to the north through the decayed old Dockland and to the more pleasant redeveloped Albert Dock and Festival Gardens.

As a whole, the seat is deprived with high unemployment, and in 1981 it was scene of the Toxteth riots.

Compared with other Merseyside and north west constituencies, Liverpool Riverside is ethnically mixed. At the 2001 census, 88% of people identified themselves as white, 3.2% as black, 2.3% as Asian, 3.4% as mixed and 2.8% as other.

More than 40% of people said they lived in social housing, while a fifth were students.