Prime Minister Andy Burnham attended Everton's opening Premier League game of the season at Hill Dickinson Stadium, where he was spotted sitting in a different seat to last season.
It is believed to be his first trip to the riverside ground since taking on the role of Prime Minister. Burnham arrived flanked by Everton legend Peter Reid and was spotted by the ECHO in the area around the directors' box rather than his season ticket seat in the South Stand.
Arrival and matchday scene
A video shared by Everton FC shows him arriving before posing for a photo with a young fan at the entrance, then heading into the ground with Reid. Everton were playing Crystal Palace in their opening game of the season.
The Prime Minister was pictured throughout his campaign to become Makerfield MP going for runs wearing a retro Everton kit, which prompted national coverage. The Old Roan-born Toffee has rarely shied away from speaking about his club, attending games regularly while working as Greater Manchester Mayor.
Rough sleeping funding announcement
The appearance on Merseyside comes after it was announced Liverpool City Region would receive close to £10 million as part of the Prime Minister's drive to end rough sleeping.
The £442m plan is being rolled out over three years to provide new accommodation and support this winter. Alongside emergency accommodation to end the need for rough sleeping, the programme will offer practical help with housing, health and other needs.
Mr Burnham said he won't accept people having to “bed down in a doorway or outside a station”. As well as off the street provision, the funding will help local areas deliver more than 1,000 settled homes over the next three years, alongside intensive wraparound support to help people rebuild their lives.
National summit planned
The Prime Minister has announced he will host a first-of-its-kind national summit in the autumn to bring together leaders from across society – from business, finance, charities, health, faith communities and more – to ask what role each of them can play in ending rough sleeping.
Mr Burnham said: “No-one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station.”
“We've seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it. I won't accept it.
“That's why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping. And it's why today we're getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas.
“We did it in the pandemic. We can do it again. But it needs all of us.
“Government will put the money in. But I'm asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too.
“Let's get people out the cold. And let's bring back hope.”
