EDUCATION secretary Gillian Keegan spent yesterday on the campaign trail in the Crewe area in the run-up to next month's general election.

The minister was helping Crewe and Nantwich Conservative candidate Ben Fletcher in his bid to retain the seat for the Conservatives.

They were joined by activists door-knocking in Shavington.

Mr Fletcher thanked the education secretary for her support and said: “It’s been brilliant to welcome the education secretary to Crewe today.

“Crewe, like the rest of the UK, has experienced a rise in educational standards and that’s something the Conservative government has championed for the past 14 years.”

Mr Fletcher added that on the doorstep, early years education and apprenticeships were among the topics people wanted to discuss.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, Ben Fletcher, with local campaigners in ShavingtonEducation Secretary Gillian Keegan and the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, Ben Fletcher, with local campaigners in Shavington (Image: Conservative party)

He said: “The government’s ongoing focus on early years education is to ensure that children get the very best start in life, supporting hard-working families with free nursery spaces.

“And on apprenticeships, I know from my own background as a chief financial officer, the way in which they are changing, for the better, the routes into professions, which is something the government has really pushed over the last 14 years, opening up more opportunities.”

Speaking after the visit, Mrs Keegan said: “Ben is a fantastic candidate and like me has spent a lot of time in business before coming into politics and having made that journey myself I really find it helps.

“It helps with understanding what we need to do to fix things, how to get things delivered and how to motivate teams.

“So, I’m excited that somebody of Ben’s calibre is willing to come and serve in public service the people of Crewe and Nantwich.”

Mr Fletcher is the new Conservative candidate and will be hoping the Tories can keep hold of the seat which has alternated between Labour and Conservative over the past few years.

Other candidates standing in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency are Connor Naismith (Lab), Te Ata Browne (Green Party), Phi Lane (Workers Party), Brian Silvester (Putting Crewe/Nantwich First), Matthew Theobold (Liberal Democrats), Matt Wood (Reform UK), Lord Psychobilly Tractor (Official Monster Raving Loony Party).