The Liverpool Echo marked the Cabinet's visit to the city by publishing an exclusive interview with Gordon Brown in its first edition yesterday as part of a double page spread.

Speaking exclusively to the Echo, the Prime Minister talked about a campaign launched by Trinity Mirror titles including the Echo urging the government to support beleaguered car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover through the economic downturn.

The Prime Minister had also spoken to the Echo's sister title the Liverpool Daily Post, explaining how the government would do "everything it could" to help the city through the downturn.

Both newspapers were poised to cover the Cabinet's visit to the city after the Echo sent a reporter to a party thrown by the Cabinet and attended by Liverpool FC footballers on Wednesday night.

The newspaper also had reporters covering Cabinet members' activities such as Schools Minister Ed Balls opening a secondary school in the city and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's tour with local police.

This is the second time this year the cabinet has held a full meeting outside London.

In September it visited Birmingham where the Express and Star ran a special edition highlighting some of the key issues in the Midlands.