THEY were here in 2012 and again in 2014. Now there is every indication that the Giants are coming back to Liverpool in 2016.
The big hint that French puppeteers Royal De Luxe will be parading around the streets of Liverpool in 18 months came from Mayor Joe Anderson.
Mayor Anderson has admitted he has already been in contact with their leader, Jean Luc Courcoult and revealed that discussions between the two are due early this month “about 2016”.
'Some of the stuff I have had on Twitter and letters I’ve received with excreta, I just think it is sad that people do that. I’d much rather have a conversation with people so I can explain things to them'
It could be that this time the story will be weaved around the Battle of the Somme which took place in 1916.
The centenary anniversary year of that famous clash takes place as Liverpool will be hosting a return if the International Festival of Business. This follows the success of the UK’s first IFB which took place in Liverpool in 2014.
The Mayor insisted the return of the Giants depends on funding, but linking it (again) to the four-year long commemoration of the First World War enhances the chances of winning government grants and financial support.
Ahead of a scheduled theatre appointment yesterday (Friday) with consultants at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, the Mayor spoke frankly of the past 12 months and the year, and years ahead.
“I remember as a kid being dependent on social services for toys at Christmas and dependent on grants for clothes to go to school in. I never thought 50 years later there would be people in this city dependent on food banks," he said.
“I spoke to one young man at a food bank who was so hard up he put baked beans in a plastic bag to heat them up in a kettle. He had no cooking facilities at all."
Jolly green giant. Picture by Wesley Storey
On demonstrations and protests outside his Liverpool home, the Mayor said: “I think people can cross the line a bit. I can understand the frustration and anger of people. I’ve seen people riding up and down the street with ‘Joe Must Go’ posters. It is upsetting for the family.
“Some of the stuff I have had on Twitter and letters I’ve received with excreta, I just think it is sad that people do that.
“I’d much rather have a conversation with people so I can explain things to them. A lot of the things they are opposed to I am also opposed to, a lot of the things they want, I also want.”
He went on: “Some people say it is part of the territory, but there are things like encroaching on the family, it is not fair and not right. Yes, demonstrate outside the Town Hall, or the council offices, or lobby me at meetings. But I don‘t think it is fair to demonstrate outside my home and I don’t think most people will think of that as fair. But I can’t stop them, it’s a free world and I believe in free speech so I will just have to get on with it.”
Mayor Anderson says Liverpool City Region will suffer the consequences of slamming the door on a metro mayor, unlike close neighbours Greater Manchester who have signed up to the move.
Talks between the Mayor and Royal De Luxe leader Jean Luc Courcoult are resuming next month
This week it was announced Knowsley Council has decided not to support a city region mayor, preferring to stick with the current system of a combined authority consisting of the six leaders meeting as a regional cabinet.
“Manchester has exploited the opportunities from the Government and embraced a modern style of governance around devolution. I think that opportunity will be lost to Liverpool City Region now. Here we are in the first week of January and it is clear we will not get the same opportunities as Manchester is enjoying. Some people wrongly say it is a power grab by Liverpool from our neighbours. It is a power grab to our region from the Government. I have also said we should work together as a city region and be more closely aligned, to ensure all six authority areas benefit.
“I’d like to campaign for the Mersey tunnels debt to be paid off by the Government so we can cap tunnel fees at £1.50 to cover maintenance costs. It is difficult to get such things if we are not united.”
