Merseyside metro mayor hopeful Luciana Berger has promised there will be no skulduggery, secrecy or spin doctoring from her administration should she be elected.

The Liverpool MP pledged: “Under my leadership the Liverpool City Region Mayor will become the most open, transparent and accountable elected representative in the country.”

Ms Berger gave her commitment to making the area "the best place in the world to live" as she kickstarted her bid to become Labour's candidate.

She also vowed to "bring the region back together after a difficult and divisive" EU campaign.

Referring to the tumultuous events of the past week, she said: “The economic and political landscape is changing fast.

"The realities of Britain’s exit from the EU could hit our region hard. We need new ideas, new leadership and new energy.”

Placing young people at the centre of her hopes for the future, Ms Berger said she intends to "create a more happy, healthy and beautiful region."

“I will work with every part of our region to ensure that no one is left behind, and everyone has a decent home, the chance to work or study and the opportunity to have a good quality of life in safe and friendly communities,” she said.

Highlighting the 72,000 children in the city region who live in poverty, she outlined plans to provide a region-wide breakfast and school holiday club.

She revealed she will introudce a "Mayoral Senate" that will represent community groups, trade unions, co-operatives, social enterprises, businesses.

Leaders from health, education, transport, culture and faith communities will also be included to act as an advisory body alongside a young people's deputy mayor and a monthly ‘"Luciana Listens" radio phone-in show.

City mayor Joe Anderson and Walton MP Steve Rotheram have also declared they are to compete to be Labour's candidate.

The position of a metro mayor for Merseyside was a condition imposed by chancellor George Osborne when he agreed to allow the region to become part of his Northern Powerhouse "devolution deal" signed last year.

The election will take place in 2017.