THE campaign to secure the seat with the smallest Labour majority in the North-East was launched in Guisborough today (Monday, March 30).

Hilary Benn, the shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, joined Tom Blenkinsop as he started his campaign to defend his seat in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.

More than 40 people turned out at the ground of Guisborough Town FC to hear the pair speak on the day government was dissolved in the run up to May’s election.

Mr Benn issued a rallying cry to people to get behind their candidate who had a slender majority of 1,677 in 2010.

He said: “The reason why we need to strain every sinew, is so that we can use Labour’s power and Labour’s ideals to increase the minimum wage, to get rid of the bedroom tax, to create proper apprenticeships and to save the NHS from the Tories.

“This is a really, really important election. The most important in a generation and that is why we need to have Tom Blenkinsop re-elected to represent the people in the area as they deserved to be represented.”

Mr Blenkinsop, who was a Labour whip, told the audience that health centres and services had been cut across the constituency area during the past five years.

He said: “We have to get the message across to the people of this country that they cannot be fooled by this government. We need to let people know what the Conservatives are about because we have to fight for our health services.”