LABOUR'S deputy leader lent a hand to help launch Ian Austin's campaign in Dudley North yesterday (Thursday).

Tom Watson chose Dudley for his first campaign visit of the snap General Election and helped to launch long-serving MP Mr Austin's campaign in front of a rally of Labour supporters outside Dudley College’s new buildings on Priory Road.

Dudley News:

Mr Watson said: “I wanted to come to Dudley for my first visit because I have never met an MP who works harder for their constituency than Ian Austin. He is a brilliant local MP and a strong voice for Dudley in Westminster.

"The Black Country needs MPs like Ian to fight for a fair deal for local people and the question people in this area need to ask themselves is who would make the best MP to stand up for them.

"Can they really trust a Conservative MP to fight for Dudley?”

Mr Austin said: “It’s brilliant to see Tom taking time out to come to Dudley and launch our campaign and explain that this election is about who should represent people from Dudley in Parliament.

“I will always work hard to stand up for folk in Dudley – whether people in Westminster like it or not.

“I love our town and I want to improve things in Dudley. My plan for Dudley is delivering jobs, investment and a town to be proud of.#"

He said he chose to launch his campaign at the new college buildings "because I want to make education our number one priority to bring new industries and new jobs to Dudley, give local youngsters a first class start and help adults get new jobs too".

Meanwhile, Dudley councillor and former leader of Dudley Council, Les Jones, fancies his chances of fighting for the Dudley North seat for the Conservatives - although no official selection has been made yet.

Cllr Jones, a long-serving councillor for Pedmore and Stourbridge East and a former computer engineer, was drafted in at the 11th hour in the 2015 General Election after Tory candidate Afzal Amin resigned amid allegations he had been in cahoots with the English Defence League.

The Conservatives are expected to select their candidate next week and cllr Jones said: "I'm optimistic, I believe the association are quite keen for me to be the candidate but it's going to take a week. It's going to be finalised next week."

If cllr Jones is selected it would be the fourth time has fought for a seat in a General Election and his fourth major election in four years. He was a Tory candidate for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's job in 2016 and 2014.

He has also previously stood in the 2001 and 2005 General Elections as the Tory candidate for Halesowen and Rowley Regis.

West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge, who is also a councillor for Sedgley, is expected to lead the fight for UKIP in Dudley North but the party is not confirming until Monday.

A spokesman simply said: "There is a selection process underway and the announcement will be made on Monday.

"We are unable to comment further at this stage."