However, the opposition Tory group demanded the resignation of the Labour and Liberal Democrat leadership following the announcement, saying they had lost touch with the electorate.

The leadership was also facing calls to reveal how much had been spent on the abandoned library closure plans and the public inquiry.

Wirral West Conservative candidate Esther McVey said there should be “full disclosure”.

Independent councillor David Kirwan, who had been leading a legal attempt to overturn the closure plans, said he was “glad to now be able to close the file”.

But he said he believed there would be “little or no change out of seven figures”.

The council was unable to give a figure for the total cost last night.

He said: “Politicians often get things wrong and I would not expect them to fall on their swords on every such occasion, but this was a massive mistake.”

According to the DCMS, the public inquiry report is now expected to be delayed a further three weeks but said they “welcome Wirral’s desire to work constructively to find a way forward”.

He said: “The Secretary of State’s inquiry appears to have persuaded Wirral into further consideration of the library service.”