Tory chairman: ‘Luton holds key to election’

The Conservative Party chairman kicked off this year’s General Election in Luton on Monday morning - next to a giant poster of David Cameron.

(Picture 150946l "Eric Pickles MP was joined by party supporters and Conservative parliamentary candidates (left) Nigel Huddleston (Luton South) and (right) Jeremy Brier (Luton North)" 300)Eric Pickles MP fired the starting gun with a new national advert campaign with the Tory leader alongside a caption saying: ‘We can’t go on like this. I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS’ and a tag line of: ‘Year for Change’.

Mr Pickles was joined by party supporters and Conservative parliamentary candidates Nigel Huddleston (Luton South) and Jeremy Brier (Luton North).

Mr Pickles said: “I’m here because the two Luton seats are pivotal to the election campaign.

We are kicking off the election year with a clear commitment to sort out the economy and cut the deficit while protecting the NHS.”

Mr Brier said: “The presence of the Party chairman underlines the importance of Luton in determining the outcome of the General Election.

“In the coming weeks and months we will have several more visits by Shadow Cabinet members, following on from nearly a dozen visits by the shadow team last year – including David Cameron himself.”

Mr Huddleston said: “Eric Pickles came to Luton to send a very clear message – the Conservatives are taking Luton very seriously and we are fighting to win.

“It is important we send a commitment about the NHS because it consistently comes near the top of the list of issues when we canvass and conduct surveys in Luton.

“All eyes will be on Luton at the upcoming General Election because since 1951 the winning party in Luton South has gone on to form the Government.

“Lutonians will therefore be deciding not only who their MP will be, but who will run the country.

“If you want change, then vote Conservative. A vote for any other Party or candidate risks five more years of Gordon Brown.”