David Cameron Visits WEC GROUP

Taken from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph:

" CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron made a late-night stop in Darwen as his campaign trail finally took in East Lancashire.

Mr Cameron arrived at WEC Engineering’s base in Junction Street shortly after 1am today as part of an all-night, last-minute nationwide tour as the country prepares to go to the polls.

He admitted the Tories had to take the marginal seat of Rossendale and Darwen from Labour if they were to have a chance of winning a majority in tomorrow’s General Election.

He also claimed former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to the town earlier in the day was 'probably not a good thing' for the Labour Party, and tried to distance the Tories from a controversial election leaflet delivered in neighbouring Blackburn.

It was slightly later than expected when the Tories’ two battle buses, bearing the new 'contract for change' slogan, rolled into the engineering firm’s car park.

The carefully-choreographed visit saw him speaking to a group of apprentices, buy a cup of coffee from a vending machine, and sign copies of the Conservative manifesto for the party’s candidate Jake Berry.

Speaking afterwards, he insisted he was not tired despite the gruelling schedule – Darwen was sandwiched between trips to Carlisle and Wakefield – adding: “There are still people here who have not made up their minds yet”.

Experts say more people than previous years are still undecided on the eve of polling day.

Mr Cameron said Rossendale and Darwen was 'absolutely' a seat the Tories had to win if they are to win an overall majority.

He was also asked about the election leaflet suggesting British troops are responsible for 'atrocities' in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He added: “It’s absolutely nothing to do with the Conservative candidate. We are absolutely sure about that. We have completely disowned the leaflet. It is nothing to do with us or our campaign.”

There was however no explanation as to how it came to be delivered last week folded inside the official Conservative newsletter and bearing the name of candidate Michael Law-Riding’s agent.

Mr Berry said Rossendale and Darwen was 'an absolute must-win' for the Tories.

And speaking after the visit, workers on the night shift at WEC gave their reaction.

Night supervisor Bruce Rothwell said: “It’s nice to see a politician come and see people who work the nights. I’ve done nights for three years and this is the first one.”

The Haslingden resident said he was still undecided as to who to vote for.
Another floating voter was Academy instructor Kris Mercer, who lives in Whalley.

He said: “He is a very lively politician, with a lot of get-up-and-go, and seems very interested.”

Some of the group of 16 to 21-year-old apprentices said they were impressed by Mr Cameron’s interest in their work. WEC spends £100,000 a year developing its apprentices. "

Click here for photographs of David Cameron's visit

Published 05/05 /10