LABOUR supporters and councillors in Chafford Hundred welcomed their party's battle bus when it arrived in the borough on the opening day of a national tour today (Saturday,1 June).

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner took centre stage as the branded pulled in for a local stop after leaving Uxbridge on a 5,000-mile journey to battleground seats across the country.

Local Labour councillors with Angela Rayner

Ms Rayner said the focus of the campaign would be to confront the Conservatives' levelling-up commitment, adding: "For 14 years, the Tories have failed to do what they promised and held back Britain's potential. Levelling up was a phoney gimmick which has now been abandoned to fund mandatory national service.

"It was a scam and a sham, and we should call it what it is.

"No more desperate gimmicks or promises that can't be met. This changed Labour Party will do the hard yards to get our economy growing. We will power up our towns and cities, and release Britain's untapped strengths."