LEADING councillors are on a collision course with neighbouring politicians in Liverpool over plans to create an all-powerful city region mayor.

The ruling Labour party in St Helens this week set out its objections to suggestions a Boris Johnson style figure should be brought in to run the region.

St Helens is already signed up to working with neighbouring councils Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley, Halton and Wirral as part of a so-called Liverpool City Region.

The current scenario sees councils working in partnership on issues such as business growth and tourism. But the idea of a city region mayor, who would have power to make key decisions about the town, appears to be troubling Labour in St Helens.

Town hall sources fear it would appear “Liverpool was taking over St Helens” and dilute local decision making.

The Coalition Government has drawn up a bill proposing introducing city mayors, but there are suggestions Liverpool’s Labour party is pressing ministers for an amendment to allow city region mayors.

St Helens Council leader Marie Rimmer expects to make her opposition to the proposals clear at a meeting of full council next week.

She has tabled a motion, which reads: “St Helens is strongly in favour of partnership working in Liverpool City Region and the North West. We believe that it can only be a true partnership if all partners are equal.

“Council notes the call for the establishment of a city region mayor and we are strongly opposed to this concept and requests the chief executive write to the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Minister for Cities.”