LABOUR leader Ed Miliband has said Worcester ‘deserves better than the current Conservative Government’ and urged voters to change the course of Britain.
Speaking to a 350 strong rally at Tudor Grange Academy on Sunday (May 3), Mr Miliband launched strong attacks on the Conservative Government and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.
The Labour leader held a People’s Question Time event in the sports hall of the Bilford Road venue with an audience of party loyalists and undecided voters.
He faced a tough questions on a range of issues including the environment, healthcare, the NHS and his party’s handling of the economy.
And the hour long session also saw Mr Miliband praise the city’s Labour candidate Joy Squires who had run an ‘excellent’ campaign according to the party leader.
Following the question and answer session, Mr Miliband held a private meeting with Tudor Grange students and before boarding the battle bus to Dudley, spoke to the Observer about the closing days of the campaign.
“I’m feeling good, there is less than 100 hours to do until polling stations open and that’s time for me to get around the country to meet candidates like Joy who is doing so much in Worcester and will make a great MP for the city,” he said.
“As well as 100 hours to polling stations open we have 100 hours to save our health service, a crucial issue here in Worcester with the situation facing Worcestershire Royal Hospital (WRH)
When asked about the current situation facing the hospital, Mr Miliband claimed it was ‘shocking’ the A&E department was in a ‘constant state of crisis’.
“WRH was built by the last Labour government to be a flagship for the NHS across the county. It is shocking that the A&E is now in a constant state of crisis. Joy is absolutely right to be campaigning on this issue, which is of great concern to local people,” he said.
“Sadly this is not the only example of how the Tory top-down reorganisation, which they promised at the last election would not happen, has damaged services across the country.”
The Labour leader began the final week of campaigning with a tour of key marginals such as Worcester which the party needs to win if it is to form a Government.
“Incredibly important, incredibly important to meet people and find out about life under this current Government and talk to them about how we believe we can change not just cities like Worcester but Britain as a whole.
The visit co-incided with the release of pictures of a stone depicting Labour’s key pledges and also saw Mr Miliband appear to suggest he wouldn’t stand again as Prime Minister if he failed to reduce tuition fees to £6,000 per year.
When asked about the stone, Mr Miliband confirmed his claim and said: “It’s incredibly important that people believe that I will keep my promises if I become Prime Minister and that’s why I’ve set them in stone.
“If I can’t deliver my promise to lower tuition fees, I wouldn’t stand for election again. I want to be remembered as a Prime Minister who under promises and over delivers,” he added.
