Sefton Council Leader Honoured for Exceptional Leadership After Southport Tragedy

Responding to the recent news that she has been awarded the Judge’s Exceptional Community Leadership Award for her “exceptional leadership and empathy” in the wake of this summer’s tragic events in Southport Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said:

“I would like to say that while the award was presented to me everything that we have done in response to the terrible events in Southport has been a team effort, both across the Council, with our partners across the Borough and Region and with local people and volunteers.

“We have a long road ahead of us and our vital roles now are to provide ongoing, long-term support for the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie Dot and the survivors of that fateful day and to ensure Southport can once again become the town that so many people across the North West and beyond, regard so fondly.”

Honoured
Cllr Atkinson was honoured in the national 2024 Local Government Information Unit and CCLA Cllr Awards.

Organisers of the awards said that ‘the winners of each category have all made positive and lasting impacts on the lives of their constituents and have shown exceptional leadership skills’. The Award judges said: “Councillor Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council demonstrated exceptional leadership and empathy in the aftermath of the devastating knife attack earlier this year in Southport.

“She is a relentless advocate for community regeneration and social and educational initiatives.”