DEPUTY Labour leader Tom Watson has said Graham Jones is the ‘kind of campaigning MP’ he wants to see back in Westminster during a visit to Accrington.

And Mr Watson said the party’s candidates did not necessarily need a picture of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on their campaigning material.

The Labour heavyweight and West Bromwich East MP met traders in the town’s Market Hall with Mr Jones who is hoping to hold on to the seat he has held since 2010 on June 8.

Mr Watson, who also visited Burnley, said Mr Jones was one of his closest Westminster colleagues.

He said: “When he was first elected he was leading a campaign on metal theft and in my own constituency we had a similar problem. Graham had a great idea about how we could change the law.

“I admire his campaigning.

“We have a joint interest in tackling fixed-odd betting and if we had not had an early general election his campaign would have led to a law change.

“That is the kind of campaigner I want back in Westminster.

“I want people to know what a powerful voice he is for Hyndburn.

“Whatever is going on nationally he deserves to be re-elected.”

Mr Watson said it was down to the candidate to run the best campaign they can and it was up to them if they carried a picture of Mr Corbyn on their literature.

“People have complex choices and it is about who is the best to respond locally,” he said.

“Graham is a classic example. He has changed the law from the back benches.”

Mr Jones said: “He has got a mention on my leaflet because what Jeremy Corbyn has said about a national education service is really important.

“He has got some good ideas and the public need to know about that, for example the £10 per hour minimum wage.”

Mr Jones said it is important that families feel there is a future for them while investing in people’s health and stopping ‘Tory cuts to the NHS’ are also on the agenda.

Investing in the police is also a key Labour promise with a pledge to put an extra 10,000 officers on the streets.

Visiting a constituency that voted 66 per cent out in the EU referendum, Mr Watson insisted the Labour party respect that decision.

He said: “We supported triggering Article 50 and we want the very best deal we can get.”

Citing tariff free access for businesses, protecting workers’ rights and environmental protections, he said: “As Keir Starmer said it will be a different kind of bill if we get into power.”

Mr Jones added: “We need a free trade deal. The choice is a worker’s Brexit or a bosses’ Brexit.”

With a 4,400 majority Mr Jones said he was passionate about Hyndburn and would do what he can to make the constituency better.

“We never take the electorate for granted. We fight for every vote,” he added.