SOUTHAMPTON was today accused of “hypocrisy”, in standing in the way of Liverpool’s cruise terminal ambitions – after £50m of taxpayers’ money was used to upgrade road access to their port.

The two cities have clashed over Liverpool’s bid to use its Pier Head cruise terminal for “turnarounds” where ships can start and finish their journeys.

Southampton believes it would amount to unfair state aid – because Liverpool received grants to help build it.

Yet a Freedom of Information request by the Daily Post reveals the Department for Transport (DfT) has spent £49m improving the M27 to speed up access for lorries to the Port of Southampton.

It comes just four months after we revealed a £60m rail freight link into the Port of Southampton was opened – with £54m coming from the taxpayer.

The latest revelation comes at a sensitive time as the Government deliberates over Liverpool’s bid to satisfy State Aid rules by paying back £5.3m of the £17.8m grants used to fund the waterfront facility.

The DfT has committed to delivering a verdict by the end of the year.

Liverpool council leader Joe Anderson last night demanded an urgent meeting with transport minister Mike Penning.

“This shows just how much the taxpayer has paid for infrastructure in Southampton, and once more shows their hypocrisy in opposing Liverpool’s bid.