SOUTHAMPTON MPs are calling on the coalition Government to reject a fresh bid by Liverpool to muscle in on Southampton’s cruise business with public funds.

Liverpool City Council has made a second application to use its £19m taxpayer-funded terminal for cruises just ten months after Labour transport minister Paul Clark ruled it out saying it “would be very likely to have an unfair and adverse effect on other cruise ports.”

Itchen MP and shadow business secretary Mr Denham said: “Nothing has changed since then except the Government. It’s clear LCC are just trying their luck.”

£19m grant Mr Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, added: “The purpose of the grant to Liverpool docks was never to give it an unfair commercial advantage over its competitors. The last Government decided – rightly – that if Liverpool wanted to compete with Southampton it should first repay the £19m grant.”

Southampton port bosses have blasted the latest move by Liverpool as “a waste of taxpayers’ time and money”.

Associated British Ports (ABP), owner of the Port of Southampton, has warned of “massive damage” to Hampshire’s cruise business if Liverpool got the go ahead.

It subsequently emerged Liverpool docks bosses had asked Portsmouth for support in return for their backing of its cruise expansion hopes.

Liverpool city leader Joe Anderson said the council had made a “new and strong, powerful case”.

But Southampton port director Doug Morrison, pictured, said: “Nothing has changed. We don’t see anything different.”