Liberal Democrats in Liverpool have called on the Labour Government to foot the bill for policing the cabinet meeting in the city.

The cost of policing November’s cabinet meeting in Leeds was £137,719 without including the bill for the presence of the Met’s special branch.

The bill for the visit could reach £200,000 once Government costs are included. The first cabinet away-day in Birmingham cost the Government £62,000 excluding policing.

Lib Dems say that the cost of the visit, to be paid by the already hard pressed Merseyside Police Authority, means there will be less cash for the police to fight crime and anti-social behaviour in our community.

Lib Dem Cllr Paula Keaveney, executive member for ethical governance on Liverpool council, said: “My concern is that everyone is hard pressed at the moment, and I don’t see why the people of Liverpool should be paying extra for what in my view is a publicity stunt.”

Cllr Keaveney has put down a number of questions on the subject to the meeting of the full council later this month.