Sign up to FREE email alerts from Liverpool Echo - Weekly Politics Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

When Boris Johnson meets the Queen tomorrow and asks permission to form a government, there will be fear and anxiety across the country.

But no part of this country will look upon the coronation of the tousle-haired, bumbling Tory MP with as much concern and disdain as Merseyside.

This is a part of the world that knows a thing or two about hardline Tory leaders and their effects - and knows a thing or two about Boris Johnson as well.

Merseyside - and Liverpool in particular - suffered greatly at the hands of the Thatcher administration - which famously discussed seeing this proud city plunged into a state of managed decline.

The government looked on with brazen indifference as factories closed, unemployment soared and people took to the streets to riot in desperation.

But the last nine years of Tory rule haven't been too much better for the city and the region's most vulnerable people either.

Liverpool City Council has seen an absurd figure of £440m chopped mercilessly from its budget, meaning it can barely provide the most basic of services for a population living under increasing levels of poverty.

(Image: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)

Add to that the toxic mix a benefit system that seems hell-bent on punishing the sick, struggling and disabled and you have a brutal set of circumstances that offer little hope for many.

Enter Boris Johnson.

Most Scousers won't need reminding of the manner in which Johnson has treated this region in the past.

He infamously edited and published a hugely offensive article which managed to smear the entire city following the tragic murder of Liverpool engineer Ken Bigley in Iraq in 2004.

The Spectator magazine's words about the people of this city - penned by Simon Heffer but approved and published by our new Prime Minister - were overflowing with contempt, scorn and gruesome arrogance.

It stated: "A combination of economic misfortune — its docks were, fundamentally, on the wrong side of England when Britain entered what is now the European Union — and an excessive predilection for welfarism have created a peculiar, and deeply unattractive, psyche among many Liverpudlians.

"They see themselves whenever possible as victims, and resent their victim status; yet at the same time they wallow in it.”

How can anyone in this part of the world believe that a man who is happy to publish such a view will ever do anything other than make people's already very difficult lives much worse?

Of course it is the European Union that has so frequently ridden to our region's rescue after such harsh treatment by different Conservative governments - giving us the chance to rebuild, replenish and attempt to make our own way out of the problems forced upon us.

But Mr Johnson - the chief architect of the Leave campaign is now preparing to plunge the country and this region into unmitigated chaos via a disastrous no deal departure from the European Union.

Boris Johnson's embarrassing moments

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Dan Carden - the MP for the Liverpool Walton constituency - is understandably deeply concerned.

He said: "Boris Johnson as Prime Minister will join a small but growing club of world leaders defined by a toxic culture of scapegoating migrants and minorities for the problems created by the powerful.

"The people of our city won't forget the​ slurs against Liverpool​ were approved as an editorial while Johnson was editor of the Spectator.

"Now he is cosying up to Trump and promising more tax cuts for the very richest in society, at the expense of the rest of us.​

"It is unacceptable that a tiny number of unrepresentative Conservative Party members are about to choose our next Prime Minister. And it should deeply concern us all that it is likely to be Boris Johnson, a serial liar who has never been driven by anything else other than his own career.

​"Whoever is announced as our next Prime Minister must seek a mandate from the people in a General Election."

Follow political editor Liam Thorp on social media Follow Liam on twitter here You can read more of his stories here You can email him on liam.thorp@reachplc.com You can also keep up with his stories by liking his facebook page here Did you film a great video? Send your footage via What's App: 07831256877 Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news here Like the ECHO Facebook page and follow @livechonews on Twitter

In Liverpool - there is cross-party concern about Prime Minister Johnson.

Liberal Democrat leader Richard Kemp says the appointment 'fills him with dread.'

He said: "It will be interesting to see if he can convince the Queen that he can command a confidence vote in the Commons with so many Tory MPs saying that they cannot support his keynote policy - leaving without a deal."

He added: "Johnson is a disgrace to politics and has a low opinion of Liverpool and of places which need to look after those in need generally. Even his friends say that he has a casual relationship with the truth. His reality is based on a privileged upbringing and inherited wealth."

(Image: Liverpool Echo/ James Maloney)

Its not just in Liverpool where there is widespread concern. Wirral South MP Alison McGovern said the whole region has already seen where the new PM's priorities lie - and it isn't here.

She said: "Boris Johnson wants to spend £9billion on the top 5 percent of earners, which accountants say is mainly men in London and the South East. So to be blunt, Merseyside - and women especially- have everything to lose.

"We have form with Boris Johnson in our city region, so I would say to him that he has a long way to go before we will believe a word he says, and even longer before we believe anything he does will be any good."

And as you can see from our video - people on the streets of Liverpool are just as concerned about today's news.