Mike Storey

Apr 24, 2026 - 05:59
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Mike Storey

Updated to reflect Storey's career to date

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'''Michael John Storey, Baron Storey''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|CBE|size=100%|sep=,}} (born 25 May 1949) is a British [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] politician. He is currently the party's spokesperson on education, families and young people in the [[House of Lords]].
'''Michael John Storey, Baron Storey''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|CBE|size=100%|sep=,}} (born 25 May 1949) is a British [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] politician.


He is a co-deputy leader of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] in the [[House of Lords]], and was the party's Education Spokesperson in the Lords between 2010–2015.{{Cite web |title=Liberal Democrat Peers |url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/peers |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=www.libdems.org.uk |language=en-gb}}
He was City Councillor for the Liverpool ward of [[Wavertree (ward)|Wavertree]] from 2004 to 2011 and Leader of [[Liverpool City Council]] from 1998 to 2005.


Storey has been a city councillor for the Liverpool ward of [[Childwall (Liverpool ward)|Childwall]] since May 2023, and previously represented the wards of [[Clubmoor (ward)|Clubmoor]] (1973–1984), [[Church (Liverpool ward)|Church]] (1984–2004) and [[Wavertree (ward)|Wavertree]] (2004–2011).
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He was first elected to the Council in 1973, and became the youngest Chair of Education in the history of Liverpool from 1980 to 1983, during which time he was also Deputy Leader of the Council under [[Trevor Jones (British politician)|Sir Trevor Jones]].

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First elected to the council in 1973, he became the youngest chair of education in the history of Liverpool between 1980–1983, during which time he was also deputy leader of the council under [[Trevor Jones (British politician)|Trevor Jones]].

He was leader of [[Liverpool City Council]] from 1998–2005 and was Liverpool's 111th [[Lord Mayor of Liverpool|Lord Mayor]] between 2009–2010.


==Leader of the Council==
==Leader of the Council==
In 1998 the Liberal Democrats gained control of Liverpool City Council and Storey became Council Leader, with [[Flo Clucas]] as his deputy leader. He aimed to set about rebuilding the city's reputation, cutting the council tax, improving services and attracting jobs and investment, while reducing the number of council employees by 5,000.
In 1998, the Liverpool Liberal Democrats gained control of [[Liverpool City Council]] and Storey became council leader, with [[Flo Clucas]] as deputy leader. He aimed to set about rebuilding the city's reputation, cutting the council tax, improving services and attracting jobs and investment, while reducing the number of council employees by 5,000.


Storey was a central part of Liverpool's successful bid to become [[European Capital of Culture]] in 2008 and was widely credited with transforming the city and Council's reputation by cutting council tax (until then the highest in the country), improving council services (previously the worst in England) and attracting jobs and investment. {{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
Storey was a central part of Liverpool's successful bid to become [[European Capital of Culture]] in 2008.{{Cite news |last=Press Association |first= |date=2003-06-04 |title=Liverpool named European capital of culture |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/jun/04/communities.politicsandthearts1 |access-date=2026-04-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} He was widely credited with transforming the city and the council's reputation by cutting council tax (until then the highest in the country), improving council services (previously the worst in England) and attracting jobs and investment.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}


He resigned as Council Leader on 25 November 2005 after being found to have breached the members' code of conduct, following the disclosure of correspondence with former Council media chief, Matt Finnegan, which appeared to show the two men seeking to pressure the departure of then Chief Executive, Sir David Henshaw.{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/4469378.stm|title=Leader quits after 'plot' probe.|work=[[BBC News]] | date=2005-11-25}} In 2009 he was present, as Lord Mayor, at a ceremony organised by [[Sons of Confederate Veterans]], allegedly a [[Neo-Confederate]] organisation at [[Toxteth Park Cemetery]] rededicating the grave of [[Irvine Bulloch]]{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/08/17/liverpool-deals-with-neo-confederate-links-abdelaziz-pkg-vpx.cnn|title=Liverpool deals with strong US-based Neo-Confederate links - CNN Video|via=edition.cnn.com}}
He resigned as council leader on 25 November 2005 after being found to have breached the members' code of conduct, following the disclosure of correspondence with former council media chief, Matt Finnegan, which appeared to show the two men seeking to pressure the departure of then chief executive, [[David Henshaw (administrator)|David Henshaw]].{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/4469378.stm|title=Leader quits after 'plot' probe.|work=[[BBC News]] | date=2005-11-25}}


He lost his seat to 18-year-old Jake Morrison in 2011.{{Cite news|date=2011-05-06|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-13275291|title=Teenage Labour candidate beats ex-Lib Dem leader|work=BBC News|access-date=2011-05-06}}
Storey lost his [[Wavertree (ward)|Wavertree]] seat to 18-year-old Jake Morrison in 2011.{{Cite news|date=2011-05-06|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-13275291|title=Teenage Labour candidate beats ex-Lib Dem leader|work=BBC News|access-date=2011-05-06}} He was elected for the [[Childwall (Liverpool ward)|Childwall ward]] in May 2023,{{Cite web |last=Liverpool City Council |first= |date=2026-04-24 |title=Details for Councillor Mike Storey |url=https://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2325 |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=councillors.liverpool.gov.uk |language=en}} and served as chair of the council's education, skills and employment scrutiny committee until March 2026.{{Cite web |last=David Humphreys |first= |date=2026-03-05 |title=Former Council boss says 'I've let you down' as he resigns |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/former-liverpool-council-boss-says-33536591 |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en}}


==Lord Mayor==
==Lord Mayor==
Storey served as [[Lord Mayor of Liverpool]]{{cite web|url=http://www.civichalls.liverpool.gov.uk/lordmayor/index.asp|title=The Lord Mayor|publisher=www.civichalls.liverpool.gov.uk|access-date=2010-04-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211003805/http://www.civichalls.liverpool.gov.uk/lordmayor/index.asp|archive-date=2007-12-11}} for the Council session 2009–2010. He was preceded by Cllr [[Steve Rotheram]] and succeeded by Cllr Hazel Williams.
Storey was [[Lord Mayor of Liverpool]] between 2009 and 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.civichalls.liverpool.gov.uk/lordmayor/index.asp|title=The Lord Mayor|publisher=www.civichalls.liverpool.gov.uk|access-date=2010-04-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211003805/http://www.civichalls.liverpool.gov.uk/lordmayor/index.asp|archive-date=2007-12-11}} and was preceded by [[Steve Rotheram]] and succeeded by Hazel Williams in that ceremonial role.

In 2009, he was present, as [[Lord Mayor of Liverpool|Lord Mayor]], at a ceremony organised by [[Sons of Confederate Veterans]] (allegedly a [[Neo-Confederate]] organisation) at a [[Toxteth Park Cemetery]] rededicating the grave of [[Irvine Bulloch]]. Storey told [[CNN]] that, had he "known what the event was really about [he] certainly would not have attended".{{Cite web |title=Liverpool, site of last surrender in US Civil War, grapples with its Confederate links |url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/08/world/liverpool-confederate-links-intl-cnnphotos/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=www.cnn.com |language=en-US}}


==House of Lords==
==House of Lords==
On 19 November 2010, it was announced that Storey would be created a [[life peer]] and will sit as a Liberal Democrat in the [[House of Lords]].{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/latest-peerages-announced|title=Latest peerages announced|website=GOV.UK}} He was created '''Baron Storey''', of Childwall in the City of Liverpool on 2 February 2011.{{London Gazette |issue=59691 |date=7 February 2011 |page=2053}}
On 19 November 2010, it was announced that Storey would be created a [[life peer]] and would sit as a [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] in the [[House of Lords]].{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/latest-peerages-announced|title=Latest peerages announced|website=GOV.UK}} He was created '''Baron Storey''' of [[Childwall]] in the [[Liverpool|City of Liverpool]] on 2 February 2011.{{London Gazette |issue=59691 |date=7 February 2011 |page=2053}}


Storey was elected as the co-deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords, alongside [[Kath Pinnock, Baroness Pinnock|Kath Pinnock]], in July 2025. He was the party's education spokesman in the Lords between 2010–2015 (also acting as co-chair of the party's education, families and young people committee) and a [[Whip (politics)|party whip]] between 2011–2014.
Storey is currently the Liberal Democrat education spokesman in the House of Lords and co-chair of the party parliamentary education, families and young people committee. He was a party whip between 2010 and 2014 and a member of the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Committee in 2012–13. He speaks on education, regeneration and the arts.


Storey sits on the [[Liaison Committee (House of Lords)|Liaison Committee]] and the [[Communications and Digital Committee]] (of which he was also a member between 2019–2021). In earlier sessions, he was a member of the [[Small and medium enterprises|Small and Medium Sized Enterprises]] Committee (2012–2013), [[Youth unemployment in the United Kingdom|Youth Unemployment]] Committee (2021), [[Special education in the United Kingdom#SEN legal regulations|Children and Families Act 2014]] Committee (2022) and Education for 11-16 Year Olds Committee (2023).{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary career for Lord Storey |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4238/career |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=members.parliament.uk |language=en}}
Storey is also a member of the Regional Growth Fund independent advisory panel and a trustee of Mersyside think-tank ExUrbe.

He is co-chair of the Water Safety Education APPG and an officer of the Education and Social Mobility APPGs{{Cite web |title=APPG officer roles for Lord Storey |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4238/appgofficerroles |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=members.parliament.uk |language=en}} and speaks on [[Education in England|education]], [[Social mobility in the United Kingdom|social mobility]] and [[urban regeneration]] matters, with specific interests in [[North West England]] and international relations with Europe and the USA.{{Cite web |title=Focus areas for Lord Storey |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4238/focus |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=members.parliament.uk |language=en}}

Storey's other roles include vice president of the [[Local Government Association]] and patronage of Careers Connect, Strawberry Field and [[Royal Life Saving Society UK|Royal Life Saving Society]].{{Cite web |title=Experience for Lord Storey |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4238/experience |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=members.parliament.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Trustees and Patron of Career Connect |url=https://careerconnect.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/our-trustees/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Career Connect |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=LGA President and Vice Presidents |url=https://www.local.gov.uk/about/our-meetings-and-leadership/lga-leadership/lga-president-and-vice-presidents |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Local Government Association |language=}}{{Cite web |title=Patrons of Strawberry Field |url=https://www.strawberryfield.salvationarmy.org.uk/lord-mike-storey-cbe |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Salvation Army |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2026-02-06 |title=Minister for School Standards welcomed update on water safety education and vital curriculum change at APPG for Water Safety Education |url=https://www.rlss.org.uk/news/water-safety-education-curriculum-change-appg |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Royal Life Saving Society UK |language=}}

He was a board member of the [[North West Development Agency]] (1999–2006), was deputy chair of (the UK's first [[Urban Regeneration Company|urban regeneration company]]) [[Liverpool Vision]] between 1999–2005, was deputy chair of Liverpool's Capital of Culture Board (2003–2008) and a member of the Regional Growth Fund independent advisory panel (2011–2015).{{Cite web |last=Hayman |first=Allister |date=2011-08-01 |title=North-west tops growth fund bids |url=https://www.lgcplus.com/services/regeneration-and-planning/north-west-tops-growth-fund-bids-01-08-2011/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Local Government Chronicle |language=}}


==Awards==
==Awards==
Storey was appointed an OBE for political services in 1994 and a CBE for services to regeneration in 2002. He is a retired primary school teacher and long-serving headteacher of Plantation Primary School, [[Halewood]].
Storey was [[1994 New Year Honours|appointed]] an OBE for political and public service in 1994, and [[2002 New Year Honours|appointed]] a CBE for services to regeneration in 2002.{{Cite news |last=New Year Honours |date=2001-12-31 |title=Prominent local politician has been awarded the CBE in recognition of his work to regenerate Liverpool |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk/2002/new_year_honours/1734700.stm |access-date=2026-04-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

== Teaching career ==
Storey is a retired primary school teacher. He was deputy head at several [[Merseyside]] schools before holding headships at St Gabriel's [[Church of England|CoE]] Primary School, [[Huyton]] (1985–1990) and Plantation Primary School, [[Halewood]] (1990–2012).


==References==
==References==
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