[4] A referendum in Liverpool was due to be held in 2023 on the continuation of the mayoralty,[5] but the city council voted to abolish the position from the May 2023 elections following public consultation.

The mayor also benefitted from so called 'soft powers' conferred on them by being directly elected, which enabled them to influence, persuade and co-ordinate on a wider scale.

[12] In July 2022, Liverpool City Council voted to scrap the directly-elected mayor position, replacing it with a leader and cabinet model.

A 2011 report by former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine and Terry Leahy argued that a directly elected mayor should cover the six districts of the Liverpool City Region.

The report argued that "in marketing terms Liverpool is a world class brand" and "it would be perverse to do other than embrace the wider area within an identity recognised across the globe.

"[14] After opposition from the boroughs of Wirral, St Helens and Sefton,[15][16][17] the idea of a city region mayor was dropped.

Minister for Cities, Greg Clark, ruled out the move as "too difficult for now", citing the need for fresh primary legislation and a reorganisation of local government boundaries as practical barriers to the concept.

He indefinitely handed over the powers and duties of the office to his deputy mayor, Wendy Simon, in December 2020 following a bribery scandal.

A multi-agency Fairness Commission reported to Mayor Anderson in May 2012, making recommendations on how Liverpool could become "a fairer, more inclusive and equitable city".

which is intended to reflect the size and population of the city, as well as the role and responsibilities associated with the position both in terms of the executive functions and proposing and implementing of key strategic plans.