A group of trade unionists and left-wing activists met in the city to mount an electoral challenge to New Labour in the Portsmouth North constituency.

The group say their aims are to look after the rights of workers and they are planning to run a candidate against Mrs McCarthy-Fry in the general election, likely to be in May next year.

A public meeting on Thursday, June 23 at Citrus Cafe, Albert Road, Southsea, was attended by local members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, the Communication Workers Union and Unison, the public sector union, who met with members of the Socialist Party to discuss the continuation of the No2EU-Yes to Democracy campaign which ran for seats in the recent European elections.

Richard Howard Portsmouth RMT branch secretary, said: 'We need politicians that put people first, and remember that businesses only exist because of people.'

Socialist Party member Andy Waterman, 24, added: 'At the next general election we will show people that not all politicians are prepared to back the bosses and are prepared to roll up their sleeves and fight for ordinary people.'

The next public meeting of the No2EU-Yes to Democracy campaign will be on Tuesday, July 28 at Portsmouth Labour Club, Fratton at 7pm.