WILLIAM Hague is to lobby the government to help Southampton cope with an influx of Kosovan refugees.

The Tory leader, who visited the Test Valley and Totton, said it was up to national rather than local governments to pay the rehousing costs.

Mr Hague made his pledge on a pre-election visit to the Test Valley two days after it was revealed more than 200 refugees could be coming to Southampton.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo yesterday, he said: "If people are going to be brought to Britain then central government needs to provide the assistance for them.

"We can't have local councils, many of whom are already strug-gling, bearing that burden." Mr Hague said the main priority was to return the refugees to their homes as soon as possible, but he recognised there were medical and other special cases which western European powers should deal with on their own soil.

He said he would lobby for more assistance to councils like Southampton, which were on refugee stand-by, adding: "Where it does happen the national govern-ment rather than local taxpayers should bear the cost."

Mr Hague insisted he was still behind the Nato war effort, but said clear military objectives would need to be spelled out in advance of any ground war.

In Totton Mr Hague and his wife, Ffion, greeted local politcians and chatted with shoppers at the Safeway superstore.

He scotched rumours that he faces a tough meeting with senior Tories who are putting him under pressure to perform better:

"They're happy with me and there's no need for any meeting."

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