POLITICAL parties across Southampton have made their pitches ahead of the upcoming election. 

On Thursday, May 5, residents in the city will head to the polls to elect new councillors across 16 wards. 

Councillors will be elected in Bargate, Bassett, Bevois, Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Coxford, Freemantle, Harefield, Millbrook, Peartree, Portswood, Redbridge, Shirley, Sholing, Swaythling and Woolston.

The Echo asked all parties to make their pitches ahead of polling day.

Southampton Labour Party has said that it has a "new team and a new vision" for the city and the area has been "let down by the Conservatives nationally and locally". 

READ MORE: Southampton Green Party and Liberal Democrats unite ahead of election

Leader of Southampton Labour Group, Cllr Satvir Kaur, told the Echo: "Labour will make every pound the council spend work for you, making our neighbourhoods places to be proud of, where people can grow and prosper in a safer, greener and more affordable city.

"Instead of spending your council tax on resurfacing a private road, we will invest in our communities; cleaner streets, improved pavements and enforcement on dangerous parking and fly-tipping.

"Everyone should feel safe in their home and neighbourhood and Labour’s £1.5m Safer Neighbourhoods Fund will help communities feel safer, prevent crime and tackle anti-social behaviour.

"Labour will take the climate crisis seriously, invest in our green spaces, improve recycling and help make our homes more energy efficient.

"Above all we know the cost of living crisis affects everyone. Labour will build more council homes, make Southampton a Living Wage City and focus on local jobs and training for young people."

Daily Echo:

Cllr Kaur also pledged to make public transport cheaper, with a new family travel card adding: "If you want a new Council with a new vision please vote Labour on May 5th.”

But Cllr Daniel Fitzhenry, the leader of the Conservatives in Southampton said: "Since being elected in May 2021, your Local Conservative Council is repairing more roads, potholes and pavements than ever before, is freezing council tax & council tenant rents, whilst investing in cleaning up our city’s parks, high streets and creating a world-class waterfront at Mayflower Park.

"On May 5 you have the chance to vote for your local Conservative candidates to help keep Southampton moving.

"If we are successful in running the council after May 2022, we will be focused on continuing to repair a record number of roads & pavements, delivering 20mph zones across the city & further investing in cleaning up fly-tipping across the city & improving our parks & open spaces.

"A local Conservative council will restore pride in our city, keep costs as low as possible for you & your family & Get Southampton Moving, growing our city to its full potential.”

Southampton Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has also put candidates forward in every ward in the election. 

Speaking on behalf of the party, Sue Atkin said TUSC "fights for every possible improvement for working-class people".

She said: "The gap between the rich and the rest of us has never been wider, but the difference between the major parties has never been narrower.

"Labour councillors chose to implement the cuts demanded by the Tory government rather than choosing to stand up for working-class people and set no-cuts budgets based on the needs of our communities.

"This resulted in Labour losing control of the council last year and the continuation of austerity under the Tories.

"TUSC was set up to enable trade unionists, community campaigners and socialists to stand together against the pro-austerity establishment parties.

"It is a beginning - a step towards the kind of party we need to deliver a socialist alternative to austerity. Everyone should have a warm home, a well-paid job, free education and health, while protecting our environment. If the capitalist system can’t afford that, we need to change the system along socialist lines to one that works for us!"