The Shadow Chancellor has accused the Conservative Party of ‘taking people for fools’.

Ed Balls, the MP for Morley and Outwood, joined Harrow East candidate Uma Kumaran along The Broadway, Stanmore, this afternoon to speak to voters about Labour’s pledges for the future.

Meeting with staunch Labour Party members, he spoke about the party’s plans to fund the NHS.

He said: “The Tories have taken people for fools – they are trying to con people but they won’t get away with it because I think people in Harrow East have heard enough Tory promises on the NHS before and since then have had them broken.

“The idea that you can save - when there is a crisis now – more money but not for four years and they won’t tell you where it is coming from, I think it is ridiculous.

“What we want is immediate reaction, and what we know here is the closures of A&Es here in West London is having a direct impact with people waiting longer in Harrow than anywhere in England now.

“We are announcing today an immediate rescue plan, and will start recruiting the new nurses we need – 1,000 – in May and bring the money in straight away as it will get worse if we don’t change things.”

He also added that the party had pledged to spend £2.5 billion extra on top of the Conservative’s promise.

Mr Balls also visited a newsagents, a charity shop and a chip shop to speak to business owners about Labour’s commitment to small businesses, with a cut in business rates in the first year and a freeze in the second.

He said: “Right now, small businesses have had a raw deal and deserve more help, and on this high street this is something we can immediately.”

Uma Kumaran said: “It was fantastic to talk to local business owners with Ed today and hear their concerns about our borough.

“Ed’s vision for our country resonates with my plans for Harrow, especially saving our NHS and ensuring our economy works for the many and not the few.

“Many small businesses have been struggling in Harrow lately but will be boosted by a Labour government’s pledge to immediately cut the business rate, on average saving them £400 a year.”