WITH the general election just four months away, The Bolton News is running a series of features with candidates vying for your vote. Here, political reporter Elaine O'Flynn speaks to current Bolton North East MP David Crausby.

THE incumbent MP for Bolton North East is back on the ballot paper this May, as he fights to keep his seat in the House of Commons.

David Crausby’s campaigning has already begun for the General Election in four months time, and the veteran MP says he is determined to help Labour secure a strong majority in Parliament.

The former engineer has been an MP since 1997, after starting his political life as a Labour councillor in Bury.

With a majority of more than 4,000 votes, veteran politician Mr Crausby says he believes this election will be one of the toughest he has fought, adding it will be a ‘straight fight’ between him and the Tories.

"All elections are hard," he said. "I never take any of them for granted — I have never held a safe seat. I consider them all marginal."

"I think this election will be particularly tight, it’s not as a clear as it once was."

Since becoming an MP Mr Crausby has run numerous campaigns, calling for the Premier League to pump more money into grassroots football, more government action to tackle overcrowding on Bolton’s railways and also seeing the Bromley Cross war memorial get listed status.

The father-of-two says now it is vital for Bolton and the country that the economy recovers.

He said: “We need a strong government, and it is clearly between us and the Tories — there will be a couple of side shows with the Greens, UKIP and the Liberal Democrats.

“This coalition has spent most of its time blaming each other for what has been happening, with the Tories saying ‘we would have done a much better job’.”

When asked if he thinks the growing popularity of UKIP will have an impact, he said: “The reality is that UKIP are more free market that the Tory party. They are out-and-out Thatcherites.

“They shouldn’t pretend to be interested in working people.

“I don’t see them winning, but clearly people vote for them and if UKIP take a big vote then they will have an impact.”

Strengthening the economy will be the most important job for whoever takes up residence in Number 10 in May, Mr Crausby says, and the country’s finances will be the defining issue of the election.

“The most important issue is always the economy. It is what drives the NHS, the public sector, and has a massive impact if you get it wrong”, he said.

“We have just wasted five years, we are back where we started.

“The Tories said they would deal with the deficit, but it is almost £80 billion. They have tried to confuse the public that they are reducing the deficit but they are not cutting the debt, it is increasing.”

Mr Crausby says returning to a mixed economy — with a strong manufacturing base in areas like Bolton — as well as spending less and increases taxes will go some way to address the country’s ‘terrifying’ levels of debt.

A balanced approach to trade is also necessary, he adds, while low pay in other European countries should not affect the living standards of workers in the UK.

“Immigration is an important matter, and the debate is clearly responsive to the rise of UKIP,” Mr Crausby said.

“What we have got to do is have strong border controls. We need to know who is coming in and leaving the country, and we have got to do something about the misuse of unskilled immigration, which affects workers here.”

Mr Crausby says he would support a referendum on EU membership — an issue he says he has campaigned on long before the rise of UKIP.

He voted against continuing the membership of the European Economic Community in 1975, but says he would want the country to stay in this Union.

“We need to allow the people a vote — I don’t think the public have ever had a proper say,” Mr Crausby said.

“But it makes no sense to leave. It is just emotional. What we have got to do is re-negotiate the terms.

“We have got to do something about the fact that many of our laws are created by people that are not accountable to the public.”

In another profession Mr Crausby, aged 68, might consider retiring, but he says he is more determined than ever to return to his seat in House of Commons.

He said: “I think all kinds of people should be in Parliament, all ethnic backgrounds, men and women and young people should be involved.

“With the population in Britain getting older I think is good to have representation of older people in Parliament now.

“I’m still as aggressive as ever, and older and wiser with it.”

Tomorrow The Bolton News speaks to the Conservative candidate for Bolton North East James Daly.