LABOUR Leader Tony Blair on a trip to Manchester said that winning Bury South at the next election was crucial to the return of a Labour Government,
His message was delivered when he met Councillor Ivan Lewis, the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Bury North.
The two politicians met for informal private talks in the city where Mr. Blair was making a keynote speech at a Labour conference on regional policies to boost the economy.
Councillor Lewis delivered a progress report on Labour's campaign to win the highly marginal seat held with just a 770 majority by Conservative MP David Sumberg.
The two also discussed issues local people have been raising since Councillor Lewis was became a candidate.
After the meeting the councillor commented "Tony emphasised how important Bury South is to the party's general election campaign.
"Labour needs to win seats like this if we are to form the next government."
He also said that the leader was enthusiastic about Bury South's campaign plans and pledged his wholehearted support as well as making it clear that no effort would be spared nationally to help Labour win locally.
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