CONSERVATIVE Cabinet Minister and Secretary of State for International Development, Priti Patel, was on the campaign trail promoting business yesterday.

As part of a national tour, Ms Patel donned a high vis and hat for her visit to two of the region’s businesses.

First, she joined Simon Clarke, the Conservative candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, on a visit to Skelton engineering firm F. J. Booth Construction Limited.

The company provides key services including design, fabrication and construction in the petrochemical, oil and gas, industrial, engineering, power generation, nuclear and biofuels industries.

She then joined the party’s Bishop Auckland candidate, Christopher Adams, as they were given a tour of S&A Builders Merchants, in Barnard Castle, by one of its owners, Geoff Simpson.

Ms Patel said she had been inspired by the businesses and emphasised the need to back Theresa May as she hopes to begin Brexit negotiations just 11 days after the General Election.

Speaking at S&A she said: “This is a brilliant British success story; one that everyone should be proud of.

“In terms of the future, it’s all about Britain post Brexit; that strong deal in our national interests which can only be delivered by Theresa May.”

Ms Patel said Mrs May would “get the best deal for British businesses”.

She added: “This is an important General Election; all about getting the majority so the Tories can go to Brussels and get the best deal for Britain.

“It’s also important as well that we are seeing through Chris, our local candidate, the level of engagement on the doorstep - Labour have taken the people here for granted.

“I campaigned for Brexit and it is about making sure we have a Conservative government to act on that vote for the whole of the UK.”

Mr Adams hopes to make history by winning the seat for the Conservatives for the first time.

He said: “We are pushing as hard as we can - people have been really pleased with the campaign.”