Ex-Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper joins the Labour campaign trail in Dudley

Labour candidate Ian Austin brought Ms Cooper to Dudley to talk to residents about crime.

Mr Austin organised a meeting at Cafe Cappella, Gospel End Street, Sedgley, for residents who have battled problems with crime such as anti-social behaviour and speeding in Dudley North which he says has seen a rise in anti-social behaviour since the start of the year.

Yvette Cooper (pictured below), who served as chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee in Parliament before the election - holding the Government to account on crime, policing and anti-social behaviour, said: "I've been really concerned to hear evidence of rising crime and anti-social behaviour in recent years.”

She praised Ian’s efforts to try and keep Dudley Police Station open and for speaking up for West Midlands Police in Parliament to try and get a fairer share of funding for frontline officers and she said: "Dudley needs a champion like Ian that will fight for our police."

Mr Austin, pictured below when campaigning to save the town's police station, said: "Local people want more police on the streets, more offenders brought before court and more criminals put in jail.

"I'm the only candidate that will stand up to the Government for stronger local policing, and every vote on Thursday June 8 will help me do that.”

Mr Austin faces opposition from Conservative candidate Les Jones, UKIP’s Bill Etheridge - a councillor and West Midlands MEP, Lib Deb Ben France and The Green Party’s Andrew Nixon in the battle for Dudley North.

The constituency is a key battleground in the forthcoming election and has already played host to visits from big name politicians including Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, Labour’s Deputy Leader Tom Watson and UKIP leader Paul Nuttall.