THE Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has made a special visit to Winsford.

MP Rebecca Long-Bailey came to talk to Labour Party members and friends from across Cheshire on Thursday about the forthcoming local elections.

She was herself a council candidate in the Over and Verdin Ward in Winsford in 2015 but was instead selected to fight the general

election in the Salford and Eccles constituency.

She became an MP, winning 49.4 per cent backing from voters. When re-elected in the snap general election in 2017 she increased her share of the vote to 65.5 per cent.

Mrs Long-Bailey said: “Labour will transform our economy and invest in the vast areas of our country which have been neglected after a decade of under investment and create jobs for the future by providing the revitalisation that people want to see."

In a 90-minute debate, she answered many questions from members on a wide range of issues including Brexit, HS2 and zero hours contracts and the need for regional distribution of wealth.

Winsford town mayor Gina Lewis, a candidate for the Winsford Over and Verdin Ward, gave a vote of thanks, and said: “Labour’s plans for Cheshire West and Chester and Winsford in particular are a positive vision for the future.

"Under the last Conservative council Winsford was always bottom of the pile. Now we have ambitious plans for the town centre and Labour is investing in our part of Cheshire."