The position is now a largely ceremonial and civic role, the Lord Mayor is referred to as the first citizen of the city and hosts events supporting a variety of causes in the city, functionally, they are also the chairperson of council meetings and convenes and presides over meetings in the council chamber.

[1] The current Lord Mayor of Liverpool is Richard Kemp CBE, who has held the post since May 2024.

The city was granted a Lord Mayoralty on 3 August 1893 through letters patent making it the equal third oldest office of this kind in England along with Manchester.

Sir Albert Woods, Garter Principal King of Arms was of the opinion that this honorific should be enabled, due to the importance of Liverpool as a city second only to London.

When Sir Alfred Scott-Gatty succeeded as King of Arms, he expressed the view that his predecessor had made an error.