FORMER Minister for Merseyside, Lord Heseltine, is backing a presentation in London today aimed at attracting more investment to the city.

He is speaking at the Invest in Liverpool event at The Royal Society of Medicine, organised by commercial property consultancy GVA, the city council and regeneration agency Liverpool Vision.

Attendees will hear presentations supporting the view that Liverpool’s medium to longer term prospects for future investment are strong.

Lord Heseltine’s appearance follows the submission of a report written by him and former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy, at the request of Prime Minister David Cameron, to promote theLiverpool city region’s economic growth. Liverpool council leader Cllr Joe Anderson said: “I am determined that our ambition and our passion will not dim and that the momentum of recent years will see us through these difficult times and ensure we are well placed to capitalise when the situation improves.”

Vision chief executive Max Steinberg said: “The desire, the confidence and the partnerships are here to realise our ambitions.”

And David Sayer, regional senior director at GVA, added: “The city’s potential as the UK’s leading regional centre for culture, retail and science-based higher education cannot be underestimated.

“With this in mind, Liverpool presents an exceptional longer term investment proposition.

“The short-term challenges, however, indicate a slow initial growth rate.”