He joined Austin on a visit to the brand new £6.5 million government-funded Wrens Nest Primary School and then toured the St Thomas’s Network.

Austin recently secured a £111,000 grant from the Third Sector Hardship fund for the Kates Hill education and training project, but its future is now at risk as a result of cuts planned by Conservative-controlled council.

Ed Balls said:

“Ian’s worked really hard to bring extra investment for schools and training to Dudley and I want to support his campaign to make education and skills Dudley’s number one priority.

“The new buildings and extra staff at Wrens Nest are great examples of the record investment we have delivered for local schools.

“And the cuts faced by the St Thomas’s Network show the dangers of voting Conservative.

“Unlike the Conservatives who would cut school budgets, we’re pledging to maintain frontline spending for schools, so the choice couldn’t really be clearer: extra investment and support for local services with Ian or cuts and closures from the Conservatives.”

Ian Austin said:

“I’ve got a big vision to improve things in Dudley with better school facilities, new college buildings, more apprenticeships and new university facilities in the town.

“The only way we’ll get the new industries and new jobs on which our prosperity will depend is if we’ve got the skills investors are looking for and the only way we’ll improve education and training for local people. That’s why I want us to make education and training our number one priority.”