Lord Mayor of Liverpool
The Lord Mayor of Liverpool for 2026-2027 is Councillor William Shorthall. The Lord Mayor is always a serving councillor, elected by the full Council, and stands for one year in office.
About the Lord Mayor
Councillor William Shortall was born and educated in Liverpool. He earned his law degree through part‐time study with The Open University and the Chester College of Law, balancing his community volunteering with the realities of life as a wheelchair user with Muscular Dystrophy (a progressive muscle wasting condition). His journey reflects determination, resilience, and a deep commitment to serving others.
Councillor Shortall has worked in various roles from a public house, an electronic servicing business and numerous volunteering roles in the community.
His political career started in 2016, joining the Labour Party and holding various roles from disability officer to constituency secretary at West Derby Constituency Labour Party. He was elected to Liverpool City Council in 2019 to represent Old Swan as one of three Labour councillors, and in 2023 under boundary commission changes was elected to represent Old Swan West as a single member Liverpool Labour ward councillor.
As Chair of Liverpool City Council’s Corporate Access Forum, he leads the city’s work to champion accessibility, strengthening inclusive policy, and ensuring disabled residents’ voices shape decision‐making. His leadership supports inclusive design across Liverpool’s infrastructure projects and planning processes, helping embed accessibility from the earliest stages. Councillor Shortall’s role centres on collaboration, practical solutions, and driving meaningful, long‐lasting change across the city’s public spaces and services.
Councillor Shortall previously spent six years as a volunteer non-executive director with the Greenbank Project Charity.
Councillor Shortall's wife Marie will be Lady Mayoress, and his two adult daughters Melissa and Laura will share the role of consort.
“It is an extraordinary honour to be invited to serve as Lord Mayor of Liverpool. As the first wheelchair user to hold this office in our city’s 816‐year history, I am deeply proud to represent a community that values inclusion, resilience and opportunity for all.
“My family, friends and colleagues are thrilled that I have been entrusted with the role of first citizen of this remarkable city. They expect me to embody Liverpool’s highest values and to extend our traditional warm welcome to everyone who calls this place home, the world in one city or comes to share in its spirit.” The Lord Mayor's Charity Councillor Shortall’s charity will be the Greenbank Project, charity number: 513814. The direct beneficiaries during his mayoral year will be Greenbank College education, training and employment services and Greenbank Sports Academy: Sport and recreational opportunities.
The Lord Mayor's charity
Councillor Shortall's charity will be the Greenbank Project. The direct beneficiaries during his mayoral year will be Greenbank College education, training and employment services and Greenbank Sports Academy: Sport and recreational opportunities. You can find out more about his charity appeal at liverpoolcityhalls.co.uk/charity-appeal
If you think you can help raise money for The Lord Mayor’s Charities please contact Liverpool Town Hall on 0151 351 2200, email lord.mayor@liverpool.gov.uk or donate at liverpoolcityhalls.co.uk/civic
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