ONE of the country's most senior Liberal Democrat politicians has denied Southampton is a "city in crisis" over yob culture.

Party president and recent leadership contender Simon Hughes visited Southampton yesterday to help kick-start the Lib Dems' local election campaign.

He launched a broadside at Labour politicians accusing them of using fears of yob culture for party political purposes in the run-up to the elections due to take place on May 4. Mr Hughes was accompanied on his visit to the city by Romsey MP Sandra Gidley and Southampton City Council's Cabinet member for communities and regeneration Councillor Liz Mizon.

Together they canvassed residents in Bassett Green Village where they targeted pensioners with details of the Lib Dem plans for local income tax to replace the council tax.

Mr Hughes praised the Lib Dem run City Council for its initiatives in tackling anti-social behaviour in Southampton.

He said: "Many of the things we have done in Southampton have been recognised by the government as good initiatives.

"The council has not done the minimum - they have done much more than that. My belief is that Southampton is not a city in crisis. The government are trying to whip up people's fear of crime and antisocial behaviour for political ends."

Last month, two senior members of the Labour government visited the city.

However, Mr Hughes said that the city had been branded by the Labour government "unfairly" and that Southampton was no less safe than Labour run authorities across the UK.