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Liverpool Walton MP Dan Carden will deliver a tribute to his predecessor, MP Eric Heffer, at a memorial lecture this Saturday.

The first Eric Heffer Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Mr Heffer's current successor as Liverpool Walton MP.

It will be the first in a series of lectures in memory of Walton’s longest-serving MP, to pay tribute to his legacy and consider how Mr Heffer's ideas of internationalist, democratic socialism can be applied in today's world.

The free event will be held at the Capstone Theatre, Hope Creative Campus, 17 Shaw Street, Liverpool L6 1HP at 7pm on Saturday, January 12.

(Image: Liverpool Echo/ James Maloney)

Mr Carden, the Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, said: "We have organised the lecture to commemorate Eric's enormous contribution and draw on his legacy to help shape the labour movement today."

He added: "Eric Heffer was a towering figure in national and local politics for a generation and I’m pleased that his legacy will now be marked in this way.

"He believed passionately in democratic socialism, in the form of common ownership and self-management.

"I think Eric would be delighted to see today’s Labour Party building on his ideas to transform Britain in the interests of the majority.

"In Jeremy Corbyn I think he would recognise a proud socialist driven by values of peace and social justice.

"It's an honour and a privilege to follow in his footsteps representing the people of Walton.

"Eric had an instinctive connection with the concerns of working people and communities, and always fought for the most vulnerable."

Mr Heffer took office in 1964, after winning his seat from the Conservatives with a large swing in the General Election, and he served as an MP for 27 years until his death while in office in 1991.

Liverpool Walton has been a Labour seat ever since and Mr Heffer was succeeded by Peter Kilfoyle, Steve Rotheram and now Mr Carden.

Alan Gibbons, Secretary of Liverpool Walton CLP, added: "We are delighted that our MP Dan Carden is delivering the inaugural Eric Heffer Memorial Lecture this Saturday.

"Eric was a lifelong trade unionist and socialist and our longest-serving MP.

"Dan is following in his footsteps as a consistent and fierce proponent of the views and interests of local people in Parliament.

"This event is a must for anyone interested in the labour movement."

The event is unticketed and all are welcome. There is parking on site and free on street parking nearby.