The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman, urged supporters in Bradford West to do everything they could to help between now and the General Election.

Canvassing in Girlington today with Labour parliamentary candidate Marsha Singh, she told the crowds that their assistance was vital to prevent a ‘slip-up’ and to see Mr Singh back in the House of Commons.

And she said that Prime Minister Gordon Brown had urged her to bring this message to Bradford West. She said the race was “very tight” and added it was a “momentous time”.

She said: “Unemployment is starting to fall now after the global economic crisis. All the economists are telling us that the economy is starting to move now. That’s down to the work that Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling have done, but we are not out of the woods yet.

“We believe very strongly that David Cameron would present a risk to the economy, people’s jobs and their prosperity. This election is one on which future public services depend as the Conservative would never protect these services.”

She added that Labour respected the contribution made by people from different Asian communities to this country and both at council level and in the House of Commons. The Labour Party had the highest number of councillors and MPs from minority ethnic communities, she said.

Mr Singh told the Telegraph & Argus: “We are privileged to have Harriet Harman here today.

“It’s a great boost to our campaign and good news for Labour.”

Miss Harman said she was a big admirer of the Labour group leader of Bradford Council, Ian Greenwood, and the work the group had been doing in Bradford.

She also spoke positively of the group gaining more seats on the Council, as well as Mr Singh retaining his seat.