The Labour Government have rejected calls  to fund extra police for Merseyside, even after it was revealed that Manchester has 410 more police on the beat that Liverpool.

 The Chief Constable and the Liberal Democrats have led the campaign for more police, particularly with the extra pressure Merseyside Police will face from  the 24million extra visitors expected in 2008.

Former Liverpool Lib Dem MP David Alton has helped raise the issue in the House of Lords, and pointed out that Manchester received an extra £4.5million to help police the Labour Party Conference.

 Manchester also got an extra £5million for the Comonwealth Games.

 Labour's Home Office minister Baroness Scotland insisted there would be no extra cash and Liverpool should consider itself  “lucky”  to win the right to stage the Capital of Culture.

 Wavertree Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman and Executive Member for Community Safety Colin Eldridge said, "This is just typical of the Labour Government. They are happy to pay for events in Manchester or London, but they tell Liverpool that we should just be grateful for what we've got!"

"The extra visitors in Capital of Culture year  will add to the workload of our already overstretched police force. And unfortunately, we also have to worry about the increased risk of terrorism these days," added Colin.

"We are lucky to have David Alton to fight the Government on our behalf, but it just shows why we need a Lib Dem MP in Liverpool"