STEVE Rotheram has been elected as the first Liverpool City region metro mayor

The turnout at polls across Runcorn and Widnes yesterday was the lowest at 20.5 per cent.

Of the 95,185 people eligible to vote in Halton only 19,492 cast their choice.

That means only around one in five residents took part in the historic election.

Voters in the borough joined people across Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley, St Helens and Sefton to select the most powerful local leader the region has ever had.

The new mayor will have major new powers on a range of issues affecting people’s everyday lives.

Key decisions on transport, housing, planning, the environment and the economic future of the region with be in the mayor’s hands.

The Halton results:

Labour 11,636

Conservative 3,928

UKIP 1,191

Liberal Democrats 934

Green 677

Trade Union and Socialist Coalition 503

Women's Equality Party 245

Get The Coppers Off The Jury 64

Turnout for the region was 21.6 per cent.

Halton was the lowest at 20.5 per cent, Knowsley 22.7 per cent, Liverpool 28.6 per cent, Sefton 26.9 per cent and Wirral 27.8 per cent.

The leader of Halton Council has welcomed the result and is confident the borough will continue to benefit from strong links it has already established with the Merseyside authorities.

Cllr Rob Polhill said: “We have been working with local authorities across Merseyside for many years.

“The reason we went into a devolution partnership was because it gives us £30 million as a region over the next 30 years.

“With the austerity measures imposed on us by the government since 2010 we have to work in partnership.

“It gives us more powers with money coming from the region instead of central government. We will be looking to be in charge of our own destiny instead of Whitehall.

“We have already benefited from the growth fund with money towards the maintenance of the Silver Jubilee bridge.

“The city region also put money into the Alstom rail development encouraging them to come to Widnes and create 600 quality jobs and an academy.”

Cllr Polhill stressed that Halton will not lose its identity, sovereignty or mayor.

“Our identity doesn’t change,” he said. “We will still have our own mayor, civic duties and no post codes will change.

“I am looking forward to working with Steve Rotheram. He has already been to Halton several times and has been very impressed by what he has seen.

“He has always pledged that no borough will be left behind.

“We might be only a small player but we are an equal player. Our voice will be heard.”

In his speech Mr Rotheram said: “The 1.5 million people in our area have spoken loud and clear in favour of a Labour metro mayor, they voted in favour of the bold manifesto a labour vision and a fresh start.

“This election campaign has been like no other. Politics is in a state of disarray in this country and too many policy ideas have progressed through what London and the South East needs and the policies that Whitehall set out too often reflect the needs of the South, ignoring the needs of areas like ours.

“The vast majority of people in the area have also sent a very clear message to Theresa May. Prime Minister you may say you can make this a country which works for all but how can it if you hit areas like ours the hardest with cuts.

“You actually claim to be the party of social justice. Sanctions, the bedroom tax and tax cuts for the rich there’s only one party for social justice and that’s the Labour Party.”