Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott accused of 'hiding' from Black Country voters
The Labour Party leadership has been accused of 'hiding' from voters in the Black Country by the Conservative Party chairman.
Sir Patrick McLoughlin denied the Tories had run a bad campaign and said the Conservative Party's candidates were more representative of Britain than Labour's.
Visiting Wolverhampton South West Tory candidate Paul Uppal in Tettenhall, the former Cannock miner said: "The campaign has been overshadowed by two terrible events and required the Government to act.
"The message of the campaign has been very simple. Just 11 days after the election the Brexit negotiations will start and the question is who do the public want to lead those negotiations.
"We have been out and about in our communities because we want to represent our society. The fact that Wolverhampton hasn't got a Conservative MP at all is something we want to get right here in Wolverhampton South West and Wolverhampton North East.
"Here in Wolverhampton and the Black Country you have seen the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, the Home Secretary, the Foreign Secretary, the Brexit Secretary and others – but where have been Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and Diane Abbott?
"They have been hidden from people here. The Conservatives want to speak for everyone and not just be a London-centric party."
Emily Thornberry and Keir Starmer are among the Labour frontbenchers to visit the region.
Wolverhampton South West is the Tories' top target in the Black Country and Staffordshire. Retiring Labour MP Rob Marris leaves a majority of just 801.
Sir Patrick said the fact Mr Uppal was running for parliament again after losing the seat to Mr Marris in 2015 showed a 'commitment' to Wolverhampton and the constituents.
He added: "The Conservative Party is much more representative of our country.
"We have candidates who are doctors, nurses, businessmen, postmen, lawyers, shop workers, served in the Armed Forces, and I was a miner.
"While the Labour Party is mainly made up of union officials and people who worked in the public sector.
"Look at Andy Street. Here you had someone who was chief executive of John Lewis and stood down to stand for the Conservatives as mayor in the region he was born in and loves.
"We want as many Conservative MPs in the West Midlands as possible to support him.
"Staffordshire has been a Conservative council now for nearly 10 years, we have won in Cannock Chase twice at General Elections which is a remarkable result. We now want to see that in Wolverhampton and Walsall and across the West Midlands."
Mr Uppal added: "It was great to have Patrick's support in Wolverhampton. The last time he visited me was when I was the MP and he was Transport Secretary and we helped deliver £13.5m towards the redevelopment of Wolverhampton railway station."
The Labour candidate in the constituency is Eleanor Smith, the Lib Dem candidate is Sarah Quarmby, UKIP's candidate is Rob Jones, Andrea Cantrill represents the Greens, and Jagmeet Singh is running as an independent.
