Exclusive - Minister for Women and Equalities visits Spellow Library

ON Friday, 23 October 2026, the Minister for Women and Equalities visited the Spellow Library, on County Road, in Liverpool. This is an Exclusive Interview with the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, who kindly gave her time to talk to us.

The Library, located within the Walton area of Liverpool was torched in violent riots on:- 3 August 2024, amid unrest which swept across the country after the stabbings in Southport. At the time, the City of Liverpool where determined to not let hatred win, and raised:- �250,000 to rebuild and books along with equipment where donated from the local community along with the Queen and a host of celebrities, like the:- TV Chef Nigella Lawson. Since the re-opened in December 2024, after the huge community effort to rectify the damage, Spellow Library, has become an inspiration of how a community can pulled together and demonstrate the power of resilience, solidarity and kindness.

This meeting was an informal event to allow the Minister, Bridget Phillipson, to hear from local School children, residents, businesses, charities, about ways the Government might be able to learn from them and other areas within the Liverpool City Region, so that they can help other communities to break down the divides between different groups within society.

Bridget Phillipson was also joined by:- Councillor Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool City Council, and representatives from the Anthony Walker Foundation. Most of the information discussed was confidential, but very enlightening, and hopefully will help the UK Government with its work regarding race equality and community cohesion, after hearing insights from local community members who all shared their lived experiences.

Both heard how this Library is extremely important to the local people and that is supported by many statements we took that day. Sadly we could not film many of them, including:- the Schools, due to confidentiality and UK publishing laws. But the few we did interview on camera can be played below. For example Alex Osman said about the area:- "Well, so, in 2019 when I came in, outside the place was, uh, there weren't a lot of Africans, there weren't a lot of Asians. So it was very, uh, whitish. But now you find a lot of people from Asia, from Africa, within this area, and then the place is now very diverse." When asked is the venue plays an important part in social cohesion in the area and the intermixing of the different societies he added:- "I bring my children here, uh, to the library often, and they, they've made friends, uh, who are not, uh, Africans, friends who are English, friends who are Asians, just by, uh, being in the library with them. So this place is really good for social cohesion"

Business Owner Winnie Olayiwola also said many new Aisan and European businesses have opened up over the last few years. She said:- "Yeah, it's diverse. Like, you have different, you know, ethnicity on here. Not just Asian, not just Polish, it's African shops. We've got African shops, we've got loads of shops here." She also agreed think that places like the Spellow Library does help the local community saying:- "Yes, it helps, you know, with the social integration and also knowing each other better."

These are the 2 interviews:-

See the full interview with Minister for Women & Equalities...

Other attendees...

These filmed interviews with ourselves took place following the meeting with the following local representatives:-

Councillor Liam Robinson, the Leader of Liverpool City Council.
Mustafa Rushdi from Al Rahma Mosque Liverpool Muslim Society.
Business Owner Winnie Olayiwola from Harvestfield Store Ltd .
Alix Osana from Spellow Lane Church.

She is a Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South since she was 1st elected to the seat on:- 6 May 2010, and the 2024 General Election. Her responsibilities serving as Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities sees her looking over the nations:- education, childcare, social care, equality and human rights policies within the UK, since her appointment to the post in:- 2024. She is also the Chair of the Labour Party since July 2026.

For information on opening times for the Library, please visit:- Liverpool.Gov.UK.

For more information about the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, please see:- Gov.UK.

2026 Official Remembrance Services and events across the Liverpool City Region times and locations

THIS is a list of all Remembrance Sunday falls on:- Sunday 8 November 2026 and Armistice Day is on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. We have a poster for you to print off that reminds people you are holding a 2 minute silence at you place of work, if you are holding 1. This is our full list of Civic Remembrance events.

Download Poster (JPG)

Liverpool City Council...

Main Service (St George's Hall Plateau) - Liverpool�s annual Civic Service takes place on:- Sunday, 8 November 2026 outside St George's Hall, marking 110 years since the Battle of the Somme under the theme Liverpool Remembers.
- 10:40 am - Pre-service music and historic archive film footage of the Liverpool Pals recruitment rallies.
- 11 am - The 2 minute silence, followed by wreath laying, a Service led by:- civic, military, and faith leaders, and a parade to the Cenotaph.
Landmark Lighting - from:- 6 November to 8 November, key City structures; including:- the Port of Liverpool Building, Cunard Building, Royal Liver Building, Liverpool Parish Church, St George's Hall, and Liverpool Town Hall; will be lit in red.
Associated Event:-
- St Luke�s (the Bombed-Out Church) and the Town Hall Balcony will feature large displays of poppies, with the Bombed Out Church open to the public on:- Sunday.

Wirral Council...

Services are scheduled across multiple Towns and villages in Wirral on:- Sunday, 8 November, including:-

Birkenhead - Civic Service at The Cenotaph in Hamilton Square starting at:- 10:55 am.
Bebington - Act of Remembrance at the war memorial at:- 10:40 am, followed by a Service at St Andrew�s Church at:- 11:10 am.
Port Sunlight - Parade starting outside Church Drive School at:- 10:30 am, marching to the War Memorial for 10:45 am, followed by a Service at Christ Church at:- 11:15 am.
Heswall - Veterans gathering at Heswall War Memorial at:- 10:45 am.
Bromborough - Service at St Barnabas Church at:- 10:15 am, followed by wreath laying at the war memorial at:- 11 am.
Other areas with listed local Services - Bidston, Eastham, Moreton, and Prenton.

Sefton Council...

Local commemorative events are organized across Sefton's Towns and Villages:-

Formby:-
- 10:45 am - Morning Remembrance Service at the Formby War Memorial organised by the Parish Council.
- 3 pm - Civic Remembrance Service at Holy Trinity Church (Rosemary Lane), followed by the Remembrance Parade at:- 3 pm.
HighTown - Service at the HighTown War Memorial at:- 10:50 am, followed by a Service at St Stephen�s Church at:- 11:10 am.
Ince Blundell - Gathering at the village War Memorial at:- 12:30 pm.
Traditional coastal and Town commemorations also take place at Southport (Lord Street War Memorial), Crosby (Alexandra Park), Bootle (King's Gardens), Maghull, and Aintree.

Knowsley Council...

Prescot:-
- 9:40 am to 10:05 am - Gathering at Prescot Primary School.
- 10:25 am - Parade moves off toward Prescot Parish Church.
- 10:50 am - Outdoor Service and wreath laying at the Cenotaph.
- 11:15 am - Indoor Service at Prescot Parish Church.
Huyton & Kirkby - Outdoor Services and wreath laying organized by the Royal British Legion take place at:- Huyton Cenotaph (Civic Way) and Kirkby Cenotaph (outside the Kirkby Centre on Norwich Way).
Kirkby Community Event - On Saturday 7 November (11 am to 3 pm), a free creative commemorative workshop takes place at:- 38 St. Chad�s Parade to bring the community together ahead of Sunday's Services.

St Helens Borough Council...

St Helens has coordinated Services across its communities for Sunday 8 November:

Rainford - Parade starts from the Village Hall at:- 10 am, leading into a Service at:- All Saints Church at:- 10:30 am.
Haydock - Service at the Vista Road Remembrance Garden, with attendees asked to arrive for a:- 3 pm start.
Eccleston - wreath laying Service at the Eccleston War Memorial on Burrows Lane at:- 11 am.

Please Note:- If you plan on attending any major City Centre events; particularly in Liverpool; please check local council channels for active road closures and public transport timetable adjustments on:- Sunday morning.

Armistice Day events, Services, and 2 minute silences taking place across the Liverpool City Region, on:- Wednesday, 11 November 2026, as published on local council and Royal British Legion (RBL) local network listings:-

Liverpool...

Exchange Flags (Liverpool BID Company & RBL):-
- 10:50 am to 11:30 am - The annual Armistice Day ceremony hosted by the Liverpool BID Company and the International Cotton Association takes place at Exchange Flags behind Town Hall. An outdoor Service and 2 minute silence will be observed at:- 11 am.
Liverpool Town Hall - Hall of Remembrance:-
- 12 pm (Noon) to 4 pm - The civic Hall of Remembrance inside Liverpool Town Hall will be open to the public free of charge for reflection and to view the Roll of Honour.

Knowsley...

Knowsley Council and local Royal British Legion branches are hosting several Civic Acts of Remembrance on 11 November:

Huyton Cenotaph (Civic Way):-
- 10:30 am - Outdoor Act of Remembrance Service organized by the Royal British Legion, featuring a 2 minute silence at:- 11 am and wreath laying. Located between Huyton Library and the Municipal Annex.
Kirkby Cenotaph (Norwich Way):-
- 10:30 am - Outdoor Act of Remembrance Service organized by the Royal British Legion, including:- wreath laying outside the Kirkby Centre.

Sefton...

Formby War Memorial (Parish Council & RBL):-
- 10:45 am - Armistice Day gathering and Service at the Formby War Memorial, with the 2 minute silence observed at:- 11 am.
Our Lady�s Church (Formby):
- 12 pm (Noon) - Annual Remembrance Service and wreath laying at the Polish War Graves.
Southport & Bootle:-
- Civic 2 minute silences are observed at:- 11 am at the Lord Street Cenotaph (Southport) and King's Gardens Memorial (Bootle).

St Helens...

Victoria Square Cenotaph (St Helens Town Centre):-
- 10:45 am - St Helens Borough Council and local veterans groups will gather at the Cenotaph in Victoria Square for prayers, a 2 minute silence at:- 11 am, and wreath laying.
EarlesTown War Memorial:-
- 10:45 am - Short outdoor Armistice Day Service and silence held at the EarlesTown War Memorial Square.
Crank War Memorial:-
- Local gathering and short act of remembrance at:- 11 am.

Wirral...

Flaybrick Memorial Gardens (Birkenhead):-
- 10:45 am - Annual Armistice Day Service held in the Memorial Garden at Flaybrick Cemetery, organized by local veterans and community groups.
Hamilton Square & Local War Memorials:-
- 2 minute silences led by local Royal British Legion branches and civic representatives will be observed at:- 11 am at Hamilton Square (Birkenhead), Port Sunlight War Memorial, and Heswall War Memorial.

Halton...

Runcorn & Widnes Cenotaphs:-
- 10:50 am - Short civic gatherings and 2 minute silences held at Runcorn War Memorial (Greenway Road) and Victoria Park Cenotaph (Widnes).

Secular faith acts of observance...

Also many places of Religion all over the Region will be holding acts of remembrance this Sunday, so please check if directly with your place of worship to find out more directly with them. These are a few of the main acts of remembrance being held by the 5 major religions in alphabetical order:-

Christianity...

Liverpool Cathedral (Church of England)
- Location:- St James Mount, Liverpool L1 7AZ.
- Time:- Sunday, 8 November 2026 at:- 10:30 am (Choral Eucharist featuring acts of remembrance)
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral (Roman Catholic)
- Location:- Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TQ
- Time:- Sunday, 8 November 2026 at:- 11 am (Solemn Mass of Remembrance)

Hinduism...

Liverpool Hindu Temple
- Location: 253 Edge Lane, Liverpool L7 2PH.
- Time: Sunday 8 November 2026 at 11:30 AM (following civic attendance at:- 10:40 am)
- Details: Hindu faith leaders attend the St George�s Hall service at:- 10:40 am, followed by a special Prarthana (remembrance prayer and peace tribute) at the Edge Lane Temple during Sunday morning prayers.

Islam...

Liverpool Region Mosque Network & Al-Rahma Mosque
- Location:- Al-Rahma Mosque, 29-31 Hatherley Street, Toxteth, Liverpool L8 2TJ.
- Time:- Sunday, 8 November 2026 � Civic civic attendance at:- 10:40 am (St George's Hall); Friday Khutbah (Sermon) on:- Friday, 6 November 2026, at:- 1 pm.
- Details: Muslim Faith Leaders participate in the multi-faith wreath-laying at St George�s Hall. Local mosques dedicate the Friday congregational sermon prior to Remembrance Sunday to honoring Muslim and Commonwealth soldiers who served.

Judaism...

Princes Road Synagogue (Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation)
- Location:- Princes Road, Toxteth, Liverpool L8 1TG.
- Time:- Saturday 7 November 2026 (Shabbat Service) at:- 9:30 am, on:- Sunday, 8 November 2026 (Civic Service) at:- 10:40 am.
- Details:- The Jewish community conducts Remembrance prayers (including El Maleh Rachamim) during Shabbat services, with representatives attending the civic Cenotaph wreath-laying on Sunday morning.

Sikhism...

Guru Nanak Gurdwara Liverpool
- Location:- 1 Clifton Road, Tuebrook, Liverpool L6 3AG.
- Time:- Sunday, 8 November 2026, at:- 11:45 am (following civic attendance at:- 10:40 am)
- Details:- Sikh community representatives participate in the multi faith civic commemoration at:- St George's Hall. A dedicated Ardas (prayer of remembrance) and tribute to Commonwealth Sikh soldiers take place during the Sunday morning Diwan at the Gurdwara.

If you would like to get a Poppy or find out why we use a Poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who died in war, please visit the Royal British Legion website.

Did you know that this year marks the 110 years since the Battle of the Somme, (1 July to 18 November 1916) which was 1 of the 1st World War's deadliest conflicts, symbolizing the immense human cost of industrial warfare. Over 1,000,000 men were killed or wounded, including:- 57,000 British casualties on day 1 alone, including the tragic loss of:- "Pals Battalions" devastating whole communities across Britain, which hit the Liverpool Pals the hardest. Strategically, the battle relieved pressure on French forces at:- Verdun and forced Germany into a war of attrition. It also marked the 1st operational deployment of tanks and led to major tactical shifts in artillery and infantry coordination that shaped modern military strategy.

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