Luciana Berger has said she is considering running for mayor of Liverpool.
She seeks to replace the current mayor Joe Anderson for the Labour nomination for a new created Metro Mayor role – due to be elected in May 2017.
The Liverpool Wavertree MP told the Liverpool Echo: “I’ve been flattered by people across the Liverpool City Region approaching me in recent days, encouraging me to put my name forward as a candidate for the new position of Metro Mayor.
“This new role - covering a new area including Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral, as well as the City of Liverpool - is vitally important for the future success of the region.
“I will be consulting with family, friends and members of my constituency Labour Party in the coming days, before reaching a decision on whether to put my hat in the ring.”
The role would be one of the most powerful political roles outside London.
Liverpool’s incumbent mayor Joe Anderson has also expressed his interest in becoming Labour’s nominee for the role.
Walton MP Steve Rotheram is also considering running.
Labour is in the strongest position to win the election next year as the party already controls all the councils across Merseyside and Halton.
Nominations for the role open on May 23 and around 10,000 Labour members are expected to choose the candidate in a process that ends in August.
