THE Labour Party in Southampton has fired the starting gun for next May’s General Election.

Hundreds of supporters were at the campaign launch at Bitterne Park School to hear Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, and Rowenna Davis, prospective candidate for the Southampton Itchen seat, outline their goals.

Mr Whitehead stressed the importance of Labour retaining two seats in Southampton to show how the city is “doing a different way of politics”, and said the party’s proposed minimum wage increase will “make a difference in Southampton”.

He said: “We are for the many, not for the few. If we work as hard as I know we will, those two seats will be secure and we know we will have done our part in bringing that about.”

Ms Davis said rebuilding the economy and rebuilding the public’s trust in politics were the two main challenges facing her and the party as she aims to retain the seat being vacated by John Denham.

She said: “We know how angry people are. It’s time to get them on board because we cannot win without them. It’s time to really listen to what people are saying, and we will help turn them into leaders.

“If we really want to rebuild the economy and trust in politics, we have to do it together.”