CAMPAIGNERS are taking their battle to the very top today as they fight moves by Liverpool to muscle in on Southampton’s lucrative cruise trade.

A petition with the names of 10,000 people will be handed to the Prime Minister as cruise wars between the two cities reach a critical stage.

Southampton City Council leader Royston Smith will join port, political and business bosses from around the country as they knock on 10 Downing Street.

It is the last chance for the UK Cruise Ports Alliance to persuade the Government not to allow Liverpool to become a “turnaround”

port for ships using taxpayers’ money.

The Merseyside city is being urged by rival ports to pay back all of the £20m of public funding it has been given to build its passenger terminal. Campaigners say only then will Liverpool be on a level playing field with its competitors, who rely on private funding for turnaround trade.

Cllr Smith will be accommpanied by Jimmy Chestnutt of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce. With them will be Dover chamber boss David Foley, Dover MP Charlie Elphicke and George Kieffer, Chairman of the Harwich Haven Partnership.

Ironically, Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, is due to arrive in Liverpool today for a brief visit during a round-Britain cruise.

In London the campaign group will be opposing Department for Tranpsort proposals to lift a ban on the northern city launching cruises if it pays back just a quarter of its £20m grants over 15 years. It has offered to hand over £5.3m of that sum.

This week shipping minister Mike Penning, the man making the final decision, has revealed that the “net present value” of that repayment will be just £3.75m taking in to account the long timespan and inflation.

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes, who obtained the figure through a Parliamentary question, said: “This is just going on and on. A lot of people are saying ‘hang on, this is subsidising a commercial port’. It’s a question of trying to make Mike Penning understand this. I am getting fed up that the Government seems to be able to make an exception to competition rules.”

Last night Saints legend Matthew Le Tissier became the latest highprofile figure to back moves to protect Southampton’s cruise industry.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “Like the football club, cruise ships are part of the soul of this city and we have to fight for its future now.

“I am urging all Saints fans and anyone who loves this city to back our campaign.

“Liverpool FC were fierce competitors on the pitch but that was generally a fair game.

“What the city is looking to do to Southampton’s cruise business is anything but. Any decent ref would send them off.”

The UK Cruise Port Alliance will hand over its petition at 2pm.