Just prior to the EU Referendum Hezza was at Liverpool’s International Festival for Business where he said a vote to leave the EU would be a ‘kick in the crotch’ for Merseyside. Tony McDonough reports.

Former Minister for Merseyside Lord Heseltine will speak at an event in Liverpool this week about how Merseyside can best respond to the vote to leave the European Union.

Just prior to the EU Referendum Hezza was at Liverpool’s International Festival for Business where he spoke firmly in favour of the Remain campaign.

“Leaving the EU would be a kick in the crotch for Merseyside,” he said.

On Thursday Lord Heseltine, who championed Liverpool in Government following the 1981 Toxteth riots, will speak at the Maritime Museum at a special post-Brexit vote event.

The day-long programme – UK Cities, Universities and Businesses in Europe after the Referendum: Risks and Opportunities – has been organised by Professor Michael Parkinson, executive director of the University of Liverpool’s Heseltine Institute for Public Policy and Practice.

Professor Parkinson produced a major report called The State of Liverpool City Region in January this year, before the June 23 vote changed the landscape.

The renowned expert on urban affairs and regeneration, said: “The EU referendum was one of the most significant constitutional and political events in the past half century.

“The result has divided opinion and created huge uncertainty and challenges for the UK’s universities, cities, and businesses.

“Vice Chancellor Professor Janet Beer has called this major one-day conference to examine the risks and opportunities, and look at ways to continue our engagement in Europe.

“Lord Heseltine will be joined by politicians, business people, academics and civic leaders to try and understand what happened and why – and what could, and should, be done to address these momentous issues.”