“I just find the hypocrisy amazing. There is absolutely no difference to the taxpayer paying for infrastructure upgrades because of port-related traffic, to public money having been used for Liverpool’s cruise terminal,” said Cllr Anderson.

The Daily Post is currently running its “Get On Board” campaign to overturn the bar on cruises beginning and ending, calling for a return to the golden days when ocean liners were based in the heart of Liverpool. Southampton is demanding the repayment of all £17.8m of government and European grants used to fund the terminal. The city claims the cash should not be used for private enterprise.

Although Liverpool’s port is owned by Peel Holdings, Liverpool council runs the cruise terminal.

Southampton’s port is run by Associated British Ports, which is registered in Jersey and does not pay corporation tax in this country.

Yet the firm has complained about Liverpool’s ambitions, saying the funding of the cruise terminal amounted to unfair state aid.

The FOI response showed the DfT paid for the M27 to be widened between Junctions Three and Four, and junctions 11 and 12, in 2008, at a cost of £49m.

“The area has seen considerable growth in traffic flows during recent years, resulting in congestion at peak periods,” states the FOI response.

“This was caused by slow moving local traffic between the junctions coupled with the Heavy Goods Vehicle usage, transporting goods to and from the ports.

“The geography of the area, between Junctions 11 and 12, added to the problem, with slow-moving goods vehicles causing tailbacks.

“These factors caused congestion and led to unreliable journey times.”