THE battle for who runs Britain for the next five years is hotting up and, on Monday, the Conservatives brought the fight to the marginal seat of Romsey and Southampton North.

Party chiefs chose the constituency as its top target in the South-East to win at the forthcoming General Election and the Tory shadow secretary of state for the environment, Nick Herbert, was in Southampton North, which includes the Swaythling and Bassett wards of the city, to support candidate, Caroline Nokes.

Besides meeting Mrs Nokes, Mr Herbert launched the Conservatives’ General Election poster campaign in the South-East, which includes the constituency.

At the last General Election, Mrs Nokes came close to taking the seat from the Lib Dems, whose candidate, Sandra Gidley, gained it from the Conservatives in a by-election in 2000 following the death of Michael Colvin, who perished with his wife, Nichola, in a fire at his north Hampshire home.

But, since the last election, the constituency boundary has changed with the loss of Chandler’s Ford, which has gone to Winchester, and a large chunk of Southampton is now included.

Speaking after the launch, Mrs Nokes said: “Nick Herbert’s visit was indicative of the importance of the Romsey and Southampton North constituency in the coming General Election campaign.

“The Conservatives are determined to win seats like this in order to be sure of returning a Conservative government and removing the failed administration of Gordon Brown. Only 10 seats nationwide were selected for a shadow cabinet launch of their billboard and, obviously, I was very pleased that Romsey and Southampton North was one of the ones chosen.

“It was great to have the support of Nick Herbert, whose environment portfolio is a key significance, and I am looking forward to many more shadow cabinet visits over the next few months.”