There are hopes the Government’s entire maritime department could move to Liverpool after its minister responded “positively” to a city leader’s request.
Kelly Tolhurst MP, the minister for aviation, maritime and security has said she will visit the city after exchanging letters with John Wilson, chief executive of charity the Liverpool Seafarers Centre.
Mr Wilson had responded to news that the government may soon relocate departments to areas outside of London.
His letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The maritime office within the department, in my opinion, will be suited to locate to a maritime city.
“I am therefore suggesting, if this might be in your vision, Liverpool city be a suitable candidate for consideration. With its maritime history, the present and future of the nation’s dependence upon maritime trade, not only with our present trading partners, but with the future in mind of new opportunities, Liverpool’s geographical location is ideal.
“That the infrastructure of connectivity to the rest of the country is well placed, together with the added advantage of HS2 speaks volumes.”
Ms Tolhurst responded on behalf of the PM. She said the Government was committed to “levelling up” across the 海角视频 and that the administration of Government needed to be less London-centric.
She said that the Department for Transport, like all departments, was working closely with wider cross-cutting programmes to consider options for relocating civil service and arms-length body roles out of London and into the regions of the 海角视频.
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She said: “We want to ensure we are realising the full potential of the country and delivering opportunity across the 海角视频, including in northern cities such as Liverpool, through local industrial strategies, devolution deals and city deals.
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“I hope to visit Liverpool in the coming months and look forward to seeing first-hand all the exciting developments which are taking place.”
The Liverpool City Region’s maritime industry contributes £4.2bn to the economy in domestic output through business turnover.
The sector supports 52,000 jobs across the area, and for every £1 generated by the sector, the wider economy benefits by £2.64.
Mr Wilson, whose charity is based in Crosby and delivers a front-line service offering support to 50,000 seafarers passing through the Port of Liverpool each year, has now called on the Merseyside sector and local politicians to support making the city the maritime home of government.
The organisation dates back to the 19th Century, and Mr Wilson said: “Liverpool is a maritime city, we are passionate about the sea and we are a merchant navy commercial port as well as shipbuilding and shiprepair hub with a massive cluster of maritime businesses.
“As a city we understand maritime and so many families have links to the sea. There is no better place for the Government to base its maritime headquarters than the great port city of Liverpool – known and respected around the world for its seafaring tradition.”