THE full scale of the impact of government cuts on Merseyside is today revealed in a damning report.

The Centre for Cities think tank has concluded that Liverpool will be the most affected major city in the UK, and that:

Liverpool and Wirral will lose almost £200 per resident – double that of Oxford near David Cameron’s wealthy constituency

Between 10,600 and 7,900 public sector jobs will be lost in Liverpool by 2015

Merseyside is “vulnerable” and unlikely to feel the benefit of the economic recovery for some time due to a low skilled workforce, lower levels of business activity, and more benefit claimants than other areas.

The Centre for Cities calls for a additional financial support from central government, and a realistic action plan to help the region recover.

Last night MPs said the report made a mockery of the coalition’s claim that the cuts being imposed were fair.

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern said: “Even though George Osborne’s constituency is only 30 miles from mine he might as well be on another planet as far as his economics are concerned.

“This report goes to show what little regard the government has for what happens in Merseyside.”

The Centre for Cities report shows the link between benefit dependency; low skills, qualifications, and business levels; reliance on public sector jobs and the impact of government cuts.

The report classifies Wirral as Birkenhead, and the local authorities of St Helens, Knowsley and the city itself as Liverpool.

Birkenhead and Liverpool have the highest welfare bills of all cities in the UK.

In Liverpool welfare accounts for around 28% of total income of residents of the city, while in central Birkenhead almost one in two claim benefits.