THE Term “Merseyside” should be banned and Wirral should be marketing itself under the Liverpool name, says Liverpool’s deputy mayor.

Cllr Mike Storey has controversially called for Merseyside to be banished and for Wirral and the county’s other boroughs to stop vying to be recognised in their own right.

Councillor Mike Storey - a former leader of the city council - insists that globally no one knows where Merseyside is, but that everyone has heard of Liverpool.

He says the outer Merseyside boroughs - Wirral, Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley - should instead sit under Liverpool’s brand umbrella if they want to promote themselves.

Speaking on Liverpool talk station, City Talk 105.9, Cllr Storey said: “We have a fantastic brand – Liverpool. Who has heard of Merseyside?”

“Liverpool now is the brand. Let’s stop all of the boroughs of Merseyside vying for the position ‘we want to be so and so, we want to be this’.

“Liverpool is the brand and let’s build on that brand.”

Cllr Storey admitted that his comments would upset his colleagues within Merseyside’s five boroughs.

But Cllr Bob Moon, Wirral’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and leisure, said: “From the point of view of the European Union there are recognised city regions, and Wirral comes within the Liverpool city region.

“In terms of branding ourselves with Liverpool, I think that’s what people when they’re abroad anyway. It’s true that less people have heard of Wirral than Liverpool, so we tend to say that Wirral is ‘next to Liverpool’ and that in turn then helps people to locate us.

“The term Merseyside isn’t liked by a lot of people, I know that. But the Mersey is the main feature of our region and that’s obviously where the name has come from.”

He added: “We do work very closely with Liverpool and we consider ourselves part of the Liverpool brand destination.

“On the other hand we also consider ourselves part of the Chester brand, too. So I like to think that Wirral benefits from actually being in the slipstream of the two.”

Cllr Storey, a Liberal Democrat, was ratified as the deputy mayor back in May, meaning he will take the position of Lord Mayor for the 2009-2010 term. Storey is also the head teacher of Plantation Primary School in Halewood.

To hear his comments in full, visit www.citytalk.fm