LABOUR'S election battle bus will roll into North East Lincolnshire today in a bid to share the party's vision with voters across the borough.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves and Labour election campaign co-ordinator Jonathan Ashworth will be among the coach load of campaigners who will be knocking on doors in the Cleethorpes and Great Grimsby constituencies. They will be arriving at Cleethorpes Pier to meet parliamentary candidates Peter Keith and Melanie Onn and Labour supporters, before dispersing into teams to speak to residents about Labour's plans for the country.
A key part of the message will be to underline the party's pledge to abolish the so-called Bedroom Tax – which has hit 1,298 households in North East Lincolnshire – if it wins the General Election in May.
Speaking ahead of today's visit, Ms Reeves, the MP for Leeds West, said: "Some of the most vulnerable people across North East Lincolnshire have been hit by David Cameron's hated Bedroom Tax, forcing many into debt and to rely on food banks. It's a cruel, unfair and costly tax with two thirds of those affected disabled. Labour will scrap the Bedroom Tax and get rid of this failing policy which is leading to more Tory welfare waste.
"I can't wait to get onto the doorsteps across Grimsby and Cleethorpes to share our messages on scrapping the Bedroom Tax, introducing a compulsory jobs guarantee to tackle unemployment and our plans to rebuild a high-skilled, high-pay economy."
Mr Ashworth, the MP for Leicester South, said: "I'm really looking forward to spending the day meeting voters, discussing how Labour can change the country and build an economy that works for everyone, not just a few millionaires in the city of London.
"The size of the team we'll have out with us across the two constituencies demonstrates how important Labour regards North East Lincolnshire as a battleground area in the election.
"We're determined to get the fantastic Melanie Onn elected to fill the big shoes being vacated by Austin Mitchell, and have every confidence that Peter Keith can see the back of Cleethorpes' Tory MP and once more give local people an MP who will put them first."
Look out for coverage of the visit in your Grimsby Telegraph.
ON THE WEB: Have you been affected by the bedroom tax? Have your say at www.grimsby telegraph.co.uk
