LIVERPOOL’S ambition to regain its glory as a home port for cruise liners has taken a quantum leap forward.

Transport and shipping minister Mike Penning MP yesterday pledged to bring back liners to the Mersey, in support of the Daily Post’s Get On Board cruise campaign.

Mr Penning visited Liverpool Cruise Terminal to discuss the controversial ban on starting and ending cruises at the Pier Head.

The negotiations were hailed by all as highly constructive and positive.

Mr Penning met Liverpool City Council leader Cllr Joe Anderson, Riverside MP and Parliamentary Transport Select Committee chair Louise Ellman, city council chief executive Ged Fitzgerald and city council director of regeneration Nick Kavanagh.

A delighted Cllr Anderson said that “all the basics are now in place” to allow turnaround cruises.

The ban on turnaround cruises was imposed because of restrictions on the EU £15m grant used to build Liverpool Cruise Terminal.

The facility was for cruise liner visits to stimulate regional tourism not for Liverpool’s commercial benefit.

Mr Penning and Cllr Anderson agreed the city council would submit a proposal to start repaying a percentage of the grant.