PERSONALLY I think it is time we called a truce with Liverpool over the so-called Port War.

For one thing they appear to have a better bunch of generals than we do.

This week saw the north-west city call in the big guns of no less a person than the Prime Minister to give a boost to its campaign to steal a march on Southampton.

Mr Cameron found himself in tepid water by applauding the development of a new container terminal in Liverpool, one he said that would remove the need for goods to be shipped into Southampton and then on by road.

Cue a general muttering all round from these parts.

Alas, as is the case, it was only mild muttering. If any of our politicians were really miffed, then they didn’t raise much in the way of protest.

In fact, I am reliably informed, the PM got his facts wrong.

The new breed of super container ships coming through the newly widened Panama Canal, the subject of his comments, will still probably head for Southampton.

But certainly, shouting about Liverpool’s new capacity won’t have done it any harm in the image stakes.

Liverpool has form here, of course.

They are still fresh from their success in overturning objections to stifle plans for a reinvigorated cruise industry based on public money. A no-no, says Southampton, where it has been mostly private funds – Associated British Ports on the whole – which has paid for our success.

Then there’s matter of a fair few millions bunged at Liverpool to pay for dredging, while, you guessed it, in Southampton we had to pay our own way.

So it’s not the case then that Southampton doesn’t have a case to put concerning its north coast rival. It’s just that so far that case appears to be falling on deaf ears.

And when the tide is against you, I suggest you shut up before you drown.

A far better approach would be to ignore Liverpool and concentrate on shouting about what we do do well here: cruise capital of Europe, booming docks, thriving and growing container industry, exports on the up, employment and future prospects looking good.

Indeed, again as we reported, latest figures show Southampton saw 800,000 cruise passengers through its terminals last year and rising numbers of cruise-related jobs.

Time to stop carping and start crowing, I would say – from the crow’s nest, of course.