Prime Minister Theresa May calls on Black Country and Staffordshire voters to 'strengthen her hand' in Brexit talks
The Prime Minister issued a rallying call to voters in the Black Country and Staffordshire to 'strengthen Britain's hand' in the Brexit negotiations by backing her in the General Election .
Theresa May told the Express & Star that 'every vote will count' as she visited UTC Aerospace Systems in Wolverhampton and congratulated new West Midlands Mayor Andy Street after his shock election victory.
It came as centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron is set to become the next French president after he triumphed over the National Front leader, Marine Le Pen, in a poll yesterday.
Mr Macron is seen as a strong supporter of the European Union and there is speculation that he will play a significant role in negotiations over Brexit.
Mrs May tweeted her response to his election victory, saying she looked forward to 'working with him on a wide range of shared priorities'.
Mrs May would not be drawn on whether the Tories' surprise victory in the West Midlands or the landslide in the Staffordshire local elections was a 'breakthrough' moment for the party in the region.
Instead she said she was 'grateful' but not 'complacent'.
She said: "I'm grateful for the support we were given in the local elections but of course we now move onto a General Election and the question people will face at that election is who should be leading our country for the next five years – me or Jeremy Corbyn?
WATCH: PM joins Andy Street in Wolverhampton
"I am taking nothing for granted – no votes have been cast yet in the General Election and the votes in the local or mayoral elections do not count towards the General Election on June 8.
"So as I say, I am taking nothing for granted and need support from across the United Kingdom – including here in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and the Black Country – to strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations.
"Only a vote for me and my team will ensure Britain has the strong and stable leadership it needs to get the best deal from Brexit."
The Prime Minster arrived at the Stafford Road complex shortly after midday on Saturday and was met by a beaming Mr Street who the day earlier had secured a knife-edge victory over Sion Simon in traditional Labour heartland.
They toured the factory workshop and met with workers and apprentices at the sprawling site.
And when asked, Mrs May appeared to suggest the West Midlands would be better off than areas like Greater Manchester and Liverpool because it had elected a Conservative mayor.
She said: "I would like to congratulate Andy Street on winning the West Midlands mayoralty. People here in the West Midlands now have a strong local champion in Andy who will get on with the job for delivering for the local area.
"A strong mayor here in the West Midlands, a Conservative mayor, working with a Conservative government can deliver for this region. I have seen in visits to companies I have done with Andy his determination to ensure there is investment, job and opportunities for the people here in the West Midlands."
"What Andy will be doing is ensuring the West Midlands is projected as an area for investment, jobs and opportunities. What is great about Andy is that he has business experience that he can bring to bear.
"He is passionate about the West Midlands and has already been delivering for the West Midlands. And he will be working with government to ensure that the West Midlands is able to develop and see that growth and prosperity."
UTC Aerospace Systems is based in the Wolverhampton North East constituency currently held by Labour's Emma Reynolds who has a 5,495 vote majority, which is low enough to make it a Tory target.
Asked if the Conservative could win the seat, Mrs May said: "I never predict election results. What I do is go out and work. I believe it is right to earn every vote. Every single vote in this election will count because every single vote for me and my team will strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations."
Ms Reynolds said: "This is the Prime Minister's first visit to Wolverhampton since she took office. It speaks volumes that she didn't find the time before the election campaign to come here.
"As the local MP and a member of the Brexit select committee, my priority has been to press the Government to get the best deal for Wolverhampton.
"I have voted every time to recognise the referendum result and the fact we are leaving the EU.
"The PM's suggestion that she is being blocked in parliament is nonsense - she has enjoyed huge majorities for starting the process of leaving (triggering article 50).
"This election is a political game that she is hoping will secure her a bigger majority. I am urging people to re-elect me as a strong local voice in Parliament with a track record of standing up for local people and local businesses."
