PRIME minister Boris Johnson has made a last-ditch bid to voters in Eastleigh and Southampton during a visit to Southampton Airport.

Speaking today, Mr Johnson said the Conservatives and the airport's expansion would "bring more jobs, more growth to Southampton".

He promised that his party would help families 'get through' the rising cost of living.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, he said: "We've got a short term problem caused by the spike in energy prices, and that's driving inflation.

"The whole world was locked down for two years, basically, we had a Covid - parts of the world's still in lockdown which isn't helping - and it's the growing strains after that.

"It's a global thing, particularly the energy price but we will get people through it.

"My undertaking is we will get people through it.

"We will use all the compassionate ingenuity we showed during Covid to try to help people through it.

"We don't have unlimited stocks of taxpayers' money to spend on this.

"But the best answer is to continue with more jobs, more growth, and more investment from overseas."

READ MORE: Sir Keir Starmer says rising bills is 'number one' issue in Southampton

Mr Johnson said the Conservatives would ensure people have "more at the end of the month" in their family budget.

Asked by the Echo about saying the cost of living crisis is "short term," Mr Johnson added: "What we're doing to help people immediately is a £22 billion pound package of support, which is a lot more than many government departments. And that is to help people - £9bn of that is going on fuel.

"But there are other things that we're we're doing - supporting local councils to help families that are in particular hardship.

"And we will continue to be as flexible and as ingenious as we can to get people through it.

"But the best solution, what we don't want to do is trigger an inflationary wage-price spiral - the kind we saw in the 70s - so that's why more jobs, better-paid jobs, higher productivity, investment, that's the best answer."

His visit comes as Southampton was branded a key battleground by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves in their visits to the city.

Mr Johnson met holidaymakers at the airport, helped baggage handlers load suitcases and took a look at a fire service response vehicle.

More from the Daily Echo interview with the Prime Minister to follow

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