Why I Love Liverpool
Duncan Barkes steps in to defend Liverpool from its detractors.
11 Nov 2011, 16:18
Liverpool: Love or hate?
Sadly ignorance is in abundance when people talk about the city, and you hear some comments from those who should know better.
I have to declare an interest. I am not a Scouser, but I had the pleasure of living and working in Merseyside for two and a half years and I would not change a minute of it.
Liverpool has become the punchbag for lame thinkers and ignorant media operators.
It is not until you spend a great deal of time in the place that you quickly become aware of how the London-centric media treat Liverpool.
Looking for a north/south divide story and low and behold a picture of a terraced street in Liverpool that has seen better days will be put alongside the glorious spires of Oxford.
Soap operas and dramas are no better. Count the many criminals from central casting who have a Liverpudlian accent.
A recent Eastenders storyline featured a man who started a relationship with a girl only to later hire her out to his friends for sex. And how did BBC scriptwriters make it clear he was a bad 'un? By giving his a Scouse accent of course. Pathetic.
Some of my acquaintances recently had to make a trip up the M6 to cover the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Being taken away from their M25 inner circle was like watching their oxygen supply being cut off. And once in Liverpool they moaned about the lack of decent bars and restaurants. Clearly they were not looking in the rights places.
I find myself increasingly in the unusual situation of defending the city to people who have never been there but who are quick to make some of the most ill-informed remarks about the place and its people. These include evil and inaccurate remarks about the Hillsborough tragedy.
When I went to Liverpool I took a massive punt. I went to work on a talk radio station as the only southerner on the air.
I learnt a lot about myself and life. I met some of the most genuine people I have ever encountered, people with passion, conviction and belief. I was made to feel very welcome and never encountered any hassle.
From back street boozers, to interviewing some of the city's more robust politicians, I found everyone to be decent, honest and genuine - not a set of values the Liverpool haters would necessarily recognise.
Liverpool has had its ups and downs as has every city. People talk about gun crime and a lack of law and order but these problems exist all over the UK. Sadly it seems to make a better headline if it's a Liverpool story.
Some say Liverpool is always looking for a punch-up - but the city has had to fight because it is continually attacked. It is an easy target for journalists, comedians and politicians.
I spend much of my time in London these days, a place that is emotionally cold and insular with no real identity or sense of community. The same cannot be said about Liverpool. It is one of the greatest cities on earth. One day I hope to return.
Those who knock the place do it out of ignorance, fear, misunderstanding, jealousy and laziness. Critics and detractors should spend some time in Liverpool and judge it for themselves. I guarantee they would change their narrow minded views very quickly.
Comments (4)
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Duncan,
Sadly, the likes of Iain Dale have no qualms about slagging off Liverpool without any knowledge of the place. Anyone who opposes them is simply seen as a 'typical whinging scouser' with a chip on his shoulder.
Does Tower Hamlets represent the whole of London? Does the media ever show the glorious parks in Liverpool? Does the media ever inform the rest of the UK about the wealth of artistic talent and galleries in Liverpool? Does the media ever show the fantastic Georgian buildings spread across the city?
For whatever reason, the msm has chosen to portray Liverpool in a bad light. Anyone who has spent any time there knows that it is as far away from the truth as it is possible to be.
Take Dale there for more than just the Labour Party Conference, he has the dreaded blinkers and needs to get out more!
11/11/2011 18:08Aye aye Laaaaa
Thank you for having the balls to speak out in defence of my home city. I am a Liverpudlian born and bred but now live in a place that's known as 'over the water', on the Wirral side of the Mersey.
I am very proud of my city. It's had it's fair share of ups and downs, good times and bad but truly believe that it's the spirit of the people which have seen it through.
We're tough, resilient and don't suffer fools gladly. We don't take offence at the usual Scouse-baiting banter, we're better than that but the constant knocking and pigeon-holing is so tiresome.
There's no doubt that the City has benefit from massive investment and is nothing like the sorry place it was in the 80s.
It's now one of the UK's top destinations for weekend breaks. We have top class restaurants, bars, theatres, shops, universities and probably the most, iconic waterfront in the world, served my the famous Mersey Ferries.
I defy anyone not to enjoy some traditional Scouse hospitality and to the ignorant few, "Do one, will yer...."
11/11/2011 20:22Jose..There are many who slag off Liverpool but I've never heard Iain do it. I was lucky enough to spend almost 3 years there so could get under the skin of the city and see the 'real' Liverpool.
My main gripe is with certain elements of the media and certain politicians (Boris) and comedians (Enfield and Co) who have stoked the stereotypes.
Ignorance is a dangerous thing, eh?
12/11/2011 09:23Hi Duncan,
I spent most of my life between working there and having to travel down sarf for business and it's amazing just how ignorant the msm and many southerners are of the north generally and in this case specifically Liverpool.
I understand you defending Iain but suggest you read his 'blog' from the Labour Party Conference and the responses he received, he was no better or worse than Boris. Ignorance rules the day.
12/11/2011 13:25