POLITICAL big guns are targeting the region as candidates begin campaigning in earnest ahead of the coming general election.

In Stourbridge, the Conservative Party’s Margot James hosted a visit from shadow children’s and families minister Maria Miller MP at the Stourbridge Children and Families Centre, Forge Road.

During the visit Mrs Miller pledged a Tory government would reduce red tape for primary school headteachers, encourage charities and voluntary groups to run more children and family centres and provide more health visitors under the Sure Start scheme.

Margot James said: “Five out of 13 children’s centres in Dudley are already run by charities and voluntary organisations which is above average for the country.

“We are well placed locally to take advantage of the shift towards voluntary sector provision that has a better record of reaching vulnerable families than services provided directly by local authorities.”

Tory leader David Cameron has also promised to hold a public meeting in Stourbridge in March to “answer questions in the most fresh and direct way” he can, he told the News.

Stourbridge Liberal Democrats have been setting out their policies for education in the borough, which will include increased spending from their Pupil Premium pledge.

Chris Bramall, who will be standing in Stourbridge for the Lib Dems, said: “Under our plans, schools in the Dudley Borough would get a further £20 million a year which they could use to cut class sizes and provide more individual support.

“The money will be targeted at schools taking on children who need extra help, but will benefit every child in every school.”

The Lib Dems also plan to put more police on the streets which they say can be paid for by scrapping the controversial ID card scheme.

Labour is already bringing its heavyweights into the battle for Black Country votes.

Chancellor Alistair Darling MP has been telling the News how important he thinks the region is in defining the shape of the next government.

Mr Darling said: “Halesowen, Stourbridge and Dudley are key battlegrounds in the forthcoming election as is the West Midlands as a whole.

“People will have a clear choice when they vote in a few weeks time and this election is critical because we have been through a recession and are coming out of it.

“People in these areas need to have the best chance of employment because getting jobs is the key to lifting people out of poverty.”