WILLIAM HAGUE hit the campaign trail in Yarm today (Friday) in support of Conservative parliamentary candidate, James Wharton as he prepares to defend the Stockton South seat - one he held with a mere 332 majority.

Mr Wharton, who thanked Mr Hague for his support, talked to local businesses and repeated Tory concerns about a possible coalition between Labour and the SNP.

The pair also chatted to shopkeepers about the health of the local economy and Tory plans to support it in the run-up to the election and beyond.

Mr Wharton described the response from local voters as “really positive” and warned the implications of a Labour/ SNP coalition for the North-East economy is at the forefront of people’s minds.

“People can see that things are getting better but - looking forward - they don’t want to put that at risk,” he said.

“You would see the tail wagging the dog. You would see preferential treatment given north of the border which in many areas we are in direct competition with.”

Highlighting the choice facing people in the offshore industries between working on Aberdeen or Teesside, he said:

“The more support the Scottish government is able to give to people going [to Aberdeen] the more difficult it will be for us to compete.

“That affects the economy not just in those industries that are directly related but in places like Yarm high street as well where people come and spend their money.

“The prospect of an unstable, unreliable Miliband/SNP government is one that really worries people in places like this.”

When pressed on what the Conservatives were offering as an alternative, he added:

“The key thing that people say is that there is a recognition that the economy is getting better. Things have been difficult and difficult decisions have been taken but we are making progress and that we’ve got to stay on that path to recovery and not put it at risk.

Labelling the prospect of an overall Labour majority as “unrealistic”, he added:

“It’s one thing to put it at risk with a Labour government… but we’re talking about some Labour/SNP deal as a very real possibility. And if that happened it would be bad for us and bad for places like this.”

Former Foreign Secretary and Richmond MP Mr Hague added his support to Mr Wharton’s concerns about the “terrible prospect” of a Labour/SNP coalition and pointed to his hard work, saying he was “one of the most talented people to enter parliament in the last election.”