Liz Truss: Tories taking nothing for granted in General Election battle for Walsall seats

Liz Truss visited the borough to hit the campaign trail with the Conservatives' Walsall North candidate Eddie Hughes and Walsall South candidate James Bird.

Speaking at Hatherton Road solicitors Enoch Evans, she said people in the area had told her they believed in Theresa May's leadership.

She also backed Tories in Walsall to boost the town's economy and national profile.

Ms Truss said: "We had a very positive reaction doorstepping around Walsall.

"A lot of people are happy with Theresa May and think she is the right person to lead this country forward, she is someone they believe in.

"This is historically a Labour area but people are concerned about Jeremy Corbyn and his plans.

"We have got two excellent candidates with bright ideas for the future of Walsall, who can offer strong leadership in terms of business ideas and ways to bring Walsall forward doing what Labour have failed to do."

The Justice Secretary said that any plans to alter the prison system would not be revealed until the Conservative manifesto is launched, but she said the report into the riot at HMP Birmingham was a priority.

"I want to see prisons as places of reform, where people leave with real opportunities of employment or training ahead of them," she said.

"An investigation in to what happened at Winson Green is yet to come out but that is obviously a high priority.

"At the same time we are recruiting more and more prison officers in our worst performing prisons so improvements are being made."

On education Ms Truss added: "In our schools, we have seen an increase in the number of pupils being educated at a good or outstanding level since 2010 and we want to make sure our head teachers are supported to make our schools a success."

Ms Truss said that no Conservative candidate was 'taking nothing for granted' at the ballot box on June 8.