MAYOR JOE Anderson’s right-hand man, the Deputy Mayor and finance chief Paul Brant, has quit the city council with immediate effect, citing personal reasons. 

Whoever replaces Paul Brant will have big shoes to fill.  His methodical approach to situations, no doubt as a result of his skills as a barrister, has helped steady the good ship Liverpool. 

He specialised in commercial law.  Following one high profile case he was made ‘The Times Lawyer of the Week’. 

Cllr Brant always nursed ambitions to become an MP and he did fight a number of Parliamentary elections.  Had he succeeded he would almost certainly risen to the ranks of a front-bench politician. Of course he is still young enough to pursue a career at Westminster. 

Riverside

His precise and clinical way of getting to grips with complicated civic matters made him the perfect right-hand man for Mayor Anderson. He was also the council’s political finance guru, an essential skill at a time of spending restraints and controls. 

He has said little of the reasons for his sudden departure from the front bench in the council chamber, quitting with immediate effect as Deputy Mayor and as a Labour councillor for Riverside Ward which covers a big chunk of the city centre. 

The reason matters not, as it appears to be personal, but what matters his decision at a critical time for Liverpool, especially given the Mayor’s Doomsday warning about the risk of approaching bankruptcy if Coalition cuts continue to slash the council’s spending budget. Brant's task would have been to steer Liverpool through those very choppy financial waters. 

Brant has been a no-nonsense politician, prepared to tell it as it is, away from spin or word management. In 2010 he was appointed chair of the Liverpool-based Riverside Group, now one of the country’s biggest social housing providers. 

On a cultural level, he also took it upon himself to intervene in Mello Mello's troubles last year when its rates relief was removed and was a very visible ambassador for the city Cabinet when Liverpool's new Central Library opened in the spring.

One thing that did add a calmness to civic life, courtesy of Paul Brant: in the background of his voicemail message was the cheery chirping of a flock of seagulls. 

In a statement this afternoon Riverside Group said: "Paul Brant has informed us that he has stepped down from his roles as councillor and Deputy Mayor of Liverpool for personal reasons. This does not affect his role as Chair of The Riverside Group Ltd where he continues to lead a well governed and financially strong housing association group."

There will now be an election in Riverside Ward, which was also the war Joe Anderson represented until his election as city Mayor. Mayor Anderson will also have to choose a new deputy.