Brown hits town to win key votes

GORDON Brown visited Oldham today during a whistle-stop tour of the North-West to bolster support in key marginal seats.

The Prime Minister spoke of Labour’s hard-hitting plans to fight crime and mocked policing cuts proposed by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in their manifestos.

Mr Brown visited the VIP Centre in Vulcan Street, Derker — which houses the control room for the council’s security services — before going to the Honeywell Community Centre in Hadfield Street, Hathershaw. Mr Brown’s visit comes the day before he takes part in the third and final televised leaders’ debate on the economy with David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

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The PM in oldham: Picture special

in tomorrow's Chronicle

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The historic debates have so far seen the leaders lock horns on domestic issues and foreign policy.

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, Labour candidate for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Michael Meacher, Labour candidate for Oldham West and Royton, along with Justice Secretary Jack Straw accompanied Mr Brown on the visit.

Oldham East and Saddleworth is a key marginal for Labour, a seat the party holds with a slender majority of 3,590 and which it fears it may lose to Liberal Democrat hopeful Elwyn Watkins.

Following his Oldham visit, Mr Brown was heading off on the campaign trail to Rochdale.
The latest polls show the Tories ahead with 34 per cent while Labour and the Lib-Dems trail on 29 per cent and 28 per cent respectively with 9 per cent still undecided.

This is the second time the Prime Minister has been to Oldham this year. Last month he visited the £17 million Christie Cancer Centre at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Mr Brown was shown round the pioneering radiotherapy centre which was backed by £100,000 raised in record time by Chronicle readers.

Catch up with the candidates at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/elections/