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Government engaging with ordinary people, says Blears

29/04/2008

The government is engaging with the concerns of ordinary voters in Greater Manchester in the run-up to the local elections, according to Salford MP Hazel Blears.

She told BBC Two's Newsnight that it is understandable that people are planning to vote against a government that is in its third term.

"I think it's difficult for any government. In mid-term elections, the electorate are bound to have their concerns," said the communities and local government secretary.

She defended the government's action over the abolition and partial U-turn of the 10p rate of income tax.

"What we do is we listen to the public, quite rightly, and I've been out on the doorsteps now virtually every day for the past month or so, listening to what people have said."

Ms Blears said the people of Greater Manchester have got a government that "acts on their concerns".

However, some backbench MPs have cast doubt on whether the government will refund everybody affected by the tax changes.

Meanwhile, David Cameron on a trip to Salford has said that he hopes the Conservatives will pick up votes from disaffected Mancunians.