Restore people's faith in you - city's Labour MPs are told

[dutchman]

More needs to be done by city MPs to win back the public's trust, according to Ed Miliband.



The Labour leader was in Holbrooks on Monday to meet with workers at a thriving engineering firm.

And speaking to the Observer, he said more needed to be delivered by the region's politicians.

"We've got great MPs in this area," Mr Miliband said.

"But I recognise right across the West Midlands we've got more work to do to convince people about what we can do for them and for the future of the economy.

"At the moment I think people are less interested in politicians and more interested in 'how are you going to change my life?'."

Jim Cunningham, Bob Ainsworth and Geoffrey Robinson have a combined 76 years worth of Westminster experience.

But Mr Miliband added Coventry was not a guaranteed win for Labour in the next general election, despite huge majorities for all three party MPs in the city.

"I don't think any Labour MP takes their electorate for granted.

"We've gone way beyond a point where MPs think to themselves 'I'm automatically going to be re-elected'."

Mr Miliband made the comments at the headquarters of Pailton Engineering on Monday.

After being shown round the Holbrook Lane site he described the firm as an inspiration.

"I came to this company to see for myself what's been happening on the ground at an engineering firm like this and I've been incredibly impressed," he said.

"They really invest in their people and young people, who are desperate for opportunities.

"It's up to government to back companies like this and companies all around Britain.

"That's not happening at the moment.

"It's got to happen because if it doesn't you won't get young people opportunities to work. I think

young people get a pretty bad wrap in this country.

"They get a pretty hard time when actually, the vast majority of young people I meet are desperate to do something with their lives and do something for themselves and their country.

"We should give them the chance to do so."