Labour candidate John O’Farrell was joined by a party heavyweight as he canvassed voters in Eastleigh.

Mr O’Farrell was accompanied by the party’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rachel Reeves MP, to lobby for the 10p tax rate to be introduced.

The duo gave out red balloons to youngsters at the town’s Leigh Road play area yesterday morning, before talking to parents about their vision for the constituency.

Mrs Reeves said that the party would lobby for more affordable housing in the town, if Mr O’Farrell were to be elected.

Mrs Reeves said: “There are many young people who are struggling to get a foot on the housing ladder. Many families in Eastleigh and across the south of England have struggled with a rise in the cost of living and rising house prices, so building new affordable housing would help families here in Eastleigh and across the south-east.”