PROTESTERS demonstrated in Southampton to highlight how the spiralling cost of living crisis is affecting the public.

The protest, organised by Southampton People’s Assembly, comes after the UK’s inflation rate soared to 5.4 percent in December, the highest level in over 30 years.

It took place outside Sainsbury’s, Shirley High Street on Saturday.

Helen Field, chair of Southampton Unite Community, told the Daily Echo: “It is ridiculous and people can’t pay. I don’t know what’s going to happen, and they are going to go hungry and cold. 

“My utility bills have tripled. 

“There are so many people who are struggling, including working people. 

“People matter, not bank balances.”

She is calling on the government to increase wages and make the national minimum wage £15 per hour. 

Meanwhile, Southampton People’s Assembly activist Glyn Oliver said: “We are out today to campaign against the incredible rise in the cost of living.

“That started, and it’s going to get worse and worse. 

“The rich of this country get away with a very low level of tax, and this country is becoming far less equal than it used to be. 

“The Tories, as usual, are all about levelling down rather than levelling up.

“We are not going to back down. We are going to build this campaign so that we have national demonstrations across the country. And force the Tories to pay up over the cost of living.”

Present at the protest was 90-year-old Barbara Lupton who was carrying a banner that said “11 years of Tories = Low wages.”

She said: “There are children going without protection, and they have no help with mental health. 

She wants the Labour council back in power in Southampton.

The protesters were also seen carrying placards that read ‘Tax the Rich” and ‘System change’