A NEWPORT MP is writing to the Prime Minister to demand a meeting with him over plans to shut Newport passport office.

The move by Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, comes after David Cameron said in the House of Commons that he is looking at the decision to close the office.

Mr Cameron spoke after Ms Morden asked for a meeting with herself and Newport West MP Paul Flynn about the passport office at Prime Minister's questions.

The reply put by Mr Cameron also suggested Newport is competing with Liverpool passport office in the current round of cuts at the passport service.

His answer has surprised and confused some involved with the campaign to save the office - who said that Liverpool has never been mentioned before during the consultation to shut Newport.

In the House of Commons Ms Morden asked for Mr Cameron to meet her and Paul Flynn so they could put the case for saving Newport passport office to him.

In reply, Mr Cameron said: “I am looking at this decision.

“It is an important decision, and I know that there is great work being done in reflecting on what jobs can be saved in Newport and Liverpool, where the two competing offices are.

"I am very happy to arrange for (Ms Morden) to meet the minister for immigration, because he is the one who will have to make the decision."

Ms Morden said she will now write to the PM to say they have already met Damian Green, and had grilled him at Welsh Affairs Select Committee.

“It’s the first time they’ve mentioned Liverpool at all,” she added. “I don’t know whether it’s a slip-up or a mistake and I will be working with the union to see what he means.”

Yesterday Ben Rapier, branch organiser for the Press and Commercial Services union, said his Liverpool comment was “a complete surprise” and had come out of nowhere.

A spokesman for the Identity and Passport Service said it had previously published the evidence proposing the closure of the application processing centre (APC) in Newport.

He said: "That publication also contained a business case analysis of the benefits of closing the APCs in Durham, Peterborough, Belfast and Liverpool. Newport APC was identified as the best solution in achieving the necessary savings in staff and physical estate.

“That position has not changed.”

"A consultation with trade unions and staff is ongoing and is scheduled to end on 18 March 2011."