PETER Hain’s campaign trail brought him to Gwent yesterday with the Welsh Secretary talking to voters outside the Tesco superstore in Newport Retail Park.
Mr Hain and Labour candidate for Newport East Jessica Morden spent an hour meeting shoppers and handing out leaflets in an effort to convince the constituency's voters to stick with Labour for another term.
The Welsh Secretary said residents should vote for Labour to ensure Newport continues to receive investment in jobs, and said statistics reported in the Argus today showing crime in Gwent went up more than five per cent in 2009 demonstrated the importance of protecting front line services such as the police, health care, and schools.
He said: “Figures like these show we’ve got to protect front line policing and have as many police officers on the beat in Newport as possible. Labour is the only party who will make sure of this.”
One of the city’s voters to meet Mr Hain was Malcolm Byers. 61, from Llanmartin.
Mr Byers said he had always supported the Conservative party, but this year he would be giving his vote to Labour.
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