Southport businesses call for more support after bookings fall by 75% after stabbings and riots
Sir Keir Starmer says he will "continue to work with Southport" after tourism bosses reported a 75% decline in bookings following the fatal stabbing of three schoolgirls.
The prime minister said he "absolutely understands" the needs of the community after the death of Bebe King, Elise Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar.
Leaders in the economic sector say the tragedy, and rioting that followed, has seen a decrease in trade on the high street, hotels and the amusement parks.
Police declared a major incident after they were called to an address on Hart Street and found multiple people, many of whom were children, with serious knife injuries on 29 July.
The children were attending a Taylor Swift themed dance class at the Hart Centre when a knifeman walked into the premises and started to attack those inside.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with the murder of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, as well as the attempted murder of instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes, and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.
Just days after the attack, riots and violence broke out in the town, which police believe was started by misinformation being spread online about who might be responsible for the attack.
It caused damage to properties and businesses in Southport, but the lasting damage is still being accounted for.
Southport Town Council say people have been put off coming to the area following the incidents of the summer.
Leaders in the economic sector say the seaside resort, which relies on holidaymakers, was already struggling with competition from other areas of the North West and rising energy costs.
The chief executive of Southport Pleasureland, Norman Wallis said: "The town needs more help than that, this is a beautiful place to live, to work and to visit.
"But unless they help us properly and rather than warm words that mean very little, this is going to be a disaster that we will never return from - we must have something now."
Political Correspondent Lise McNally sat down with Sir Keir Starmer and asked him about the recovery support for Southport.
The Government's pledged more than half a million pounds to help recovery in financial and emotional terms, but those facing a potentially bleak winter say it is not enough.
When asked about the impact of the fatal stabbing on Southport, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "We'll continue to work with them."
He added: "I absolutely understand the need for this community in particular to have the support that it needs.
"So we'll continue to work with them. But I get it. But I know how hard it is for the local community because I saw it for myself on both occasions when I was up there."
Sefton Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Paulette Lappin said: "As soon as this tragedy occurred everybody just cancelled and these are small businesses, so they won't have much slack in their account.
"People chose not to come to Southport because they thought it was disrespectful or they just didn't feel safe, there is a whole range of reasons why people made those decisions but we are absolutely acutely aware of their circumstances.
"We have been negotiating with central Government, talking to them and they are deeply concerned as well, so we are pushing on an open door or we are just waiting to hear what they actually have to say."
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