LEADERS of Southampton’s main political parties have united to back a Daily Echo campaign to stem the tide of socalled legal highs flooding high streets and readily available on the Internet.

The senior politicians pledged to do all they can to push for tighter regulation on the deadly substances which have killed three young people in Hampshire and left one seriously ill.

Their backing of our Say No to Legal Highs initiative follows support from city MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead and Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Hayes who last week called for Britain to follow the lead from the USA where states are beginning to enforce more robust laws to outlaw the lethal brands.

We are leading calls for: n Tougher laws, regulations and licensing rules.

• Vendors and sellers to be held to account.

• Tighter controls to stop vulnerable youngsters from being able to buy the products over the counter.

Cllr Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council’s ruling Labour group said: “I am fully supportive of the campaign.

“We have things that are legal being passed around commercial properties which have caused harm and deaths to young people and the sooner we get it stopped the better.

“It requires a chance in the law in these substances as soon as possible and we will put our trading standards arm behind anything being proposed by the Government.

He added: “The problem is that what it says on the tin isn’t necessarily what it does to you. These are legal drugs which will rapidly become illegal.”

Conservative group leader Cllr Royston Smith said: “We all have a responsibility to look at this, especially when people are falling ill and worse from these drugs.

“The council and politicians like myself should be putting pressure on the Government.

“There is clearly a gap in the legislation and we need to redefine what’s legal and if Labour were to write to the Government to express concerns then we will support them.”