UPDATE: Herbert announced today (Friday, March 30) he is pulling out of the race to be elected mayor of Liverpool. His withdrawal comes just two days after a champagne launch at the Hilton in Liverpool One. Updated snap here.
CAN hairdresser Herbert's campaign to be elected mayor of Liverpool stand head and shoulders above the rest?
Will his political rivals bid to snip his campaign in the bud?
The crimper to stars, WAGs and city slebs, rolled out the red carpet to launch his campaign at the Hilton hotel last night - holding his Louis Vuitton briefcase aloft.
And with Herbert Howe on the growing list of candidates for the job, the campaign could well turn into a shampoo opera.
“He can't win can he?” “He won't win – Labour will walk it...” the quietly spoken comments at Herbert's big launch.
Yet it's impossible to rule out the king of bling becoming the crowned mayor of Liverpool.
Who can say whether enough voters in Liverpool decide at the ballot box on May 3 that politicians should be given the chop?
If a man dressed as a monkey can swing to power in a mayoral election in the North East anything is possible in Liverpool.
Herbert cited his friend Sir Richard Branson as a good example of how a self-made man can become a leader. “He told me he doesn't know how to run an airline, so he hired a person who did know,” Herbert told his champagne launch.
Former Lib Dem councillor Bernie Turner is Herbert’s campaign manager. His brand colours are black and white, with Herbert saying in his book there are no grey areas. Yet there's no doubt Herbert will add a splash of colour to the battle, pink or otherwise.
Herbert is one of two independents to stake a claim for the job, the other being former BBC man Liam Fogarty, a long time campaigner for an elected mayor.
The others, so far, are Joe Anderson (Labour), Richard Kemp (Lib Dem), businessman Tony Caldiera (Conservative), John Coyne (Liverpool Green Party councillor) and Tony Mulhearn, former President of Liverpool District Labour Party standing under a Socialist banner.
“I'm not doing this for 15 minutes of fame,” said Herbert, insisting he was deadly serious about wanting the job to transform Liverpool into a happier place.
Lime Street needs transforming, Liverpool FC has to decide what it wants to do in what has become the wasteland of Anfield, the booze culture in the city centre needs to be controlled.
Youth clubs for young people and better education, said Herbert, adding he had to employ an English teacher in his own hair training school.
He stood on the rostrum at the Hilton, exposed his gleaming teeth and said to the crowd: “I bet you hadn't expected to see me being so serious.”
Joe Anderson, popular leader of the city council, must remain the front-runner, with Labour chucking massive resources into his campaign.
But politics can be a funny old world, and who knows, Bling Bling House could become the new Town Hall.
