LIVERPOOL will face calls to pay back an extra £13m when a long-awaited review of the ban on launching cruises from Pier Head gets underway today.

Southampton’s port is demanding a refund of all £17.8m of public cash used to build the terminal – as a short stopover point for cruises only – as it prepares its submission to the Government.

The call leaves the two cities miles apart in the growing row, because Liverpool Council’s proposal is understood to involve a repayment of as little as £5m.

The gulf will create a headache for shipping minister Mike Penning, who will officially start fresh consultation by laying a parliamentary statement today.

Mr Penning has described Liverpool’s offer as merely “grounds for holding a consultation”, allowing other ports around the country, including Southampton and Tyneside, to make their protests.

The minister has already required the council to “take responsibility” if the European Union demands a payback of any of £8.6m received from Brussels.

Liverpool’s original position was an offer to refund “some” of the £9.2m grant from Whitehall – understood to be just over half, about £5m – and none of the EU’s £8.6m.