A GLIMMER of hope has come from the Government when it comes to backdated port rates.

In response to a question tabled by Grimsby-born Ian Cawsey in the House Of Commons earlier this week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has offered to meet the Brigg and Goole MP.

Asked to sit down with the Chancellor and the Department for Communities and Local Government to "get a fair and equitable solution to keep jobs in our ports safe," Mr Brown responded by saying: "I am grateful to my honourable friend, he has always been a persistent advocate of the ports and the jobs they create.

"I am very happy to meet him to talk about this issue and what we have done – the equal interest-free payments paid in instalments over an unprecedented eight years. I am happy to talk to him about what more we can do to help."

As extensively reported, local MPs and parliamentary candidates across the political divide have turned on the Government in a bid to reverse a decision to go ahead with the collection of backdated port rates for companies, despite many only finding out more than two years down the line.

The Telegraph's business website www.humberbusiness.com launched a campaign against what was described as a "ruinous" situation, and the Conservatives exclusively revealed in this newspaper how they would halt collections should they gain power. The Liberal Democrats followed suit shortly afterwards, but so far the only concession from Labour has been to spread payments over eight years and instigate a fast-track appeals process.

Mr Cawsey told the Telegraph that the Prime Minister's officials have confirmed it will be arranged prior to the election.

He said: "Given the schedules it may be possible to arrange it when the Prime Minister is somewhere closer to us.

"I am more interested in the message than the location, but he did say he was keen to help more.

"That is helpful, and if he wants to come to Goole, Grimsby or Immingham and stand port side and say what he needs to say we would be happy for him to do that. The important thing is what more he can do to help. We would like to know what that is."

Meanwhile, one of the leaders of the industrial backlash on the situation has written to the South Bank's sitting MPs, thanking them for their efforts but warning how his employees and their peers are likely to vote.

Andy Dixon, managing director of Freshney Cargo Services, thanked Grimsby's Austin Mitchell, Cleethorpes' Shona McIsaac and Mr Cawsey for their "tireless personal efforts to try to save businesses in the ports affected by the imposition of the scandalous backdated rates," but said: "We are an island served by ports, how does Mr Brown think that port employees and the logistical community will vote? Probably with the party which will save their livelihoods, I would imagine."

Copying in the Treasury and echoing the famous headline from The Sun on election eve, one that was used by the Telegraph on this very issue last month, Mr Dixon added before Parliament was dissolved: "You have one day left to try to make the ill-advised Government see sense, I wish you the best of luck and thank you once again.

"Failing this, will the last one out of the ports please turn the light off."

Mr Dixon said: "It beggars belief that for just £37-million, a fraction of the bonuses paid to banks and which is what it would take only to save port businesses who will be ruined by the VOA who caused this mess, that the Government will still not overturn this travesty.

"The eight years to pay only works if you have eight years free of rates going forward. To pay the instalments together with the massive increases in the future is unworkable.

"We have had massive cross party support and finally the Conservatives and Liberals offer a solution to this unfair imposition on business."

Austin Mitchell MP said: "They are falling for a confidence trick from the Conservatives that just won't work. It will cost £40-million to seek a moratorium on port rates which is what the Tories have said. But it won't work. Gordon Brown has offered to help more."