Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham visited Bradford today to throw his weight behind Labour’s local election campaign bid.

Mr Burnham joined Labour candidate Michelle Swallow on the doorsteps of residents in the Clayton and Fairweather Green area to speak to people in the ward about their concerns.

The shadow cabinet member previously visited Bradford in the run-up to the Bradford West by-election in March, which he described today as a bad result for Labour.

He said: “We got a bad result in the by-election, let’s be honest. We have got to be out there speaking to people, gaining people’s trust and the message we are saying is very clear, we want a majority Labour council to stand up to the coalition Government and get Bradford going back in the right direction.

“We have had an early taste of the coalition here and I think people are seeing through the coalition and people need a Labour council."

He said the main issue he took from his last visit to the city was the struggles of young people.

He said: “The one thing I remember I took away was the plight of young people - the lack of jobs, the lack of opportunities and so I would say look around the country, look at what Labour councils are doing to give opportunities to young people.

“The other issue is the NHS, and that is my brief - it is coming up on the doorstep all over the country and people are just angry about what Cameron has done to the NHS.”