Last week John Denham was in the Merry Oak area of Peartree Ward seeking support for Labour's campaign to stamp down on underage drinking.   Local families in Merry Oak, as in other places in Southampton, say that antisocial behaviour by a minority of youngsters is often fuelled by alcohol.

John Denham said "Labour Councillors want the City Council to have more trading standards officers to prosecute shops who sell drink to children.  Conservative and Liberal Democrat Councillors don’t. I want to change their minds."

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John Denham also talked about other Mery Oak concerns.  He said "Local Liberal Democrat voters are angry that their Lib Dem Councillor has put the Conservatives in charge of Southampton Council.  It was Lib Dem Peartree Councillor Nora Goss whose vote put the Tories in power.  The other Lib Dems sat on their hands.

"Because the Lib Dems put the Tories in control, we will now get cuts in services (that’s why they won’t tackle underage drinking).  They’ve put outsiders put in charge of new city schools (against the wishes of parents, teachers and local employers). The Tories even refused to support disabled people at the local Remploy factory.

"It’s very clear – if you vote Lib Dem, you get Tory policies."