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Mike Wharton is a British Labour Party politician, currently serving as the leader of Halton Borough Council and deputy mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Early life and education

Mike Wharton grew up in Bootle, having attended Bootle Grammar School. His father was a Union shop steward in the town's docks. Wharton has worked finance for the retail company Littlewoods until 2005.

Political career

Wharton was first elected to Halton Borough Council in 2002 for the ward of Hale Village. Around 2006, Wharton was given the Halton Borough Council portfolio for resources, which placed him in charge of producing the council's annual budget. Four years later, he became the deputy leader of the council. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was elected as the leader of the council after his predecessor, Rob Polhill, stepped down. he won re-election for his ward in 2024

In 2023 Wharton hit out at the UK Government after Halton Borough Council was forced to close a number of supporting services for children in Halton due to a lack of funding, Wharton was on record in the council meeting saying that the funding of local authorities was not a priority for the government, Wharton further went on to blame the disorder and turmoil in Downing Street and the governments record for helping councils as the reasons for this decision.

As leader of Halton Borough Council, Wharton also serves on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority cabinet. He had been responsible for culture, tourism and the visitor economy until 2023 when he became the cabinet member for economic development and business prior to this he served as cabinet member for Culture, Tourism & The Visitor Economy. In 2024, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, announced that Wharton would become deputy mayor of the city region, taking over from David Baines, the leader of St Helens Borough Council, who was elected to Parliament in the 2024 General Election and stepped down from his local government roles.

As Liverpool City Region Cabinet Member for Business, Investment and Trade, Wharton stated in 2024 that he is "Determined to accelerate inward investment and boost international trade" in the Liverpool City Region. Wharton also assisted with the creation and selection of members for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Business and Enterprise Board which in 2023 absorbed the powers and role of Liverpool City Region Local enterprise partnership and was made a part of the combined authority.

References

1. reporter, Mark Smith, Local democracy (28 May 2021). "Halton Council leader optimistic about future but finances still a challenge". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 30 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Smith, Mark (11 May 2021). "Mike Wharton set to become new leader of Halton Borough Council". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
3. Nutall, Andrew (3 May 2024). "Labour tighten strong control of Halton Council with election win". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
4. LDRS (2 February 2023). "Halton Council approves cuts to services to save £6.88m". BBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
5. Smith, Mark (2 June 2023). "New role at city region for Halton Council leader". Runcorn & Widnes World. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
6. "Combined Authority Members and Cabinet Responsibilities". Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
7. "Express bus service to Liverpool set to make a return". Runcorn and Widnes World. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
8. "David Baines to step down as St Helens Council leader: full statement". St Helens Star. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
9. "Mayor Steve Rotheram announces members of the city region's new Business and Enterprise Board". LCRCA. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.

• 21st-century English politicians
• Labour Party (UK) councillors in Liverpool
• Leaders of local authorities of England
• Living people