The mayor of Liverpool has hit out at the decision to give the region’s combined authority a name featuring all six of the districts.

Joe Anderson said he was disappointed with the decision to call the organisation the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority.

Mayor Anderson suggested the Liverpool brand should be used because it was recognised by ‘everyone’ and hinted that there was friction over who should lead the combined authority.

He said: ‘I would hope that people would recognise that my leadership of the city region over the last three-and-a-half years has been fruitful, but other people – maybe for their own ends rather than the combined authority’s ends – thought otherwise.’

Leader of the opposition Lib Dem group on Liverpool City Council, Cllr Richard Kemp, has called for deputy prime minister Nick Clegg to intervene.

In a letter to Mr Clegg, Cllr Kemp wrote: ‘With a pigs’ breakfast for a name and clear divisions at the very top of the body I cannot begin to see how it might fulfil the roles of leadership which are desperately needed to bring jobs and prosperity to our region.’

Yesterday, the new combined authority was given government backing.