Lord Mayor of Liverpool

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool for 2024-2025 is Councillor Richard Kemp CBE. The Lord Mayor is always a serving councillor, elected by the full Council, and stands for one year in office.

About the Lord Mayor

Cllr Richard Kemp CBE came to Liverpool in 1974 and was elected for the first time in 1975. He was no stranger to Liverpool as his mother came from Walton and his uncle owned a shop on Scotland Road. His mother marched off to war in 1943 and joined the WAAF where she met Richard’s father who was in the RAF on a radar site in Lincolnshire.

Richard has been a councillor for several wards in the city and is now the councillor for the Penny Lane Ward. Richard has fulfilled many roles including chairing committees and sub-committees, being a Cabinet Member, member of the Police Authority and the Fire Authority. His last job before becoming the Deputy Lord Mayor was as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Opposition.

He was awarded a CBE in 2011 for public service to local government, regeneration and housing.

Outside the council, Richard was vice-chair and Liberal Democrat Leader at the Local Government Association for eight years and for ten years he represented the UK on United Cities & Local Government, the world body for councils and regional bodies.

He chairs QS ImpACT, a global charity which supports young people in communities and universities who are interested in delivering the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ in their community.

Lady Mayoress

Richard’s Lady Mayoress is his wife, Alderwoman Erica Kemp CBE, who is no stranger to the Town Hall. She was a councillor for 23 years and was the Lord Mayor of Liverpool in 2014 – 2015. She was awarded a CBE in 2014 for political and public service.

Richard and Erica have three children and five grandchildren who play a major part in their lives.  Their youngest daughter, Rachel served as Lady Mayoress to her mother.

Richard’s year in office will be influenced by Erica’s time as Lord Mayor as well as seeing 40 other Lord Mayors at work.

Richard wants to get out into the community and thank those who are tackling the serious problems faced by too many young people in our city. In particular, he wants to concentrate on providing care leavers and children from deprived areas with experiences that will enrich their lives.

That is why his partners will be The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Liverpool Council for Voluntary Services, National Museums Liverpool and the Community Foundation for Lancashire & Merseyside. They will receive huge support throughout the year from Lunya, the Spanish restaurant on Hanover Street.

The Lord Mayor's charities

The Lord Mayor's charities for 2024/25 are not-for-profit organisations and one local company who will work to enhance the experiences and help widen the horizons of young people leaving care, and support those who live in areas with limited access to some of the opportunities that our city provides:

• Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
• Liverpool Council for Voluntary Services
• Liverpool Museums and Galleries
• Community Foundation of Lancashire and Merseyside

The partners will be helped by Lunya, the tapas restaurant, who will assist all other partners with fund raising opportunities.

If you think you can help raise money for The Lord Mayor’s Charities please contact Liverpool Town Hall on 0151 233 4651, email town.hall@liverpool.gov.uk or donate at liverpooltownhall.co.uk/lmca

Role of the Lord Mayor

The Lord Mayor is the first citizen and chosen representative of the city, acting as the focal point of the community as well as promoting the city and forging national and international links. The Lord Mayor's role is to:

• represent the city at civic functions and engagements
• promote the city nationally and internationally
• support local charities and community groups
• attend religious events of all denominations
• meet delegates from twinned cities
• chair council meetings
• confer Honorary Freemen and associations