CHANCELLOR George Osborne stressed East Lancashire’s importance in his ‘northern powerhouse’ vision during a visit to a biscuit factory in Nelson yesterday.

Mr Osborne was at Farmhouse Biscuits, in Brook Street, as the Conservatives stepped up their General Election campaign in the north-west.

He visited the business with Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson, having joined Prime Minister David Cameron in Accrington earlier in the day.

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Mr Osborne said a Tory-led government could create ‘a brighter future’ for East Lancashire.

He said: “Pendle and East Lancashire are absolutely at the heart of the northern powerhouse. This is not just about the big cities.

“The argument I’ve been making today in Manchester and Accrington is that if you bring together all the strengths of the towns and communities here, the whole can be bigger than the parts.

“That will bring jobs and economic opportunities here. That involves massive investment in transport and regional regeneration such at the Brierfield Mill redevelopment.”

Asked about a review of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which could see seven key services moved away from Blackburn and Burnley, Mr Osborne said that was a decision for ‘clinicians and the people who run the NHS’.

Mr Osborne praised Pendle’s falling unemployment figures but dodged a question about the growing need for food banks.

He said: “The idea that there is no connection between the national economy and what goes on in Pendle is a big mistake and if you believe that and vote for a party that’s going to destroy the national economy, you will see the consequences.”

Farmhouse Biscuits used the visit to announce the creation of 20 jobs.