HOME secretary Priti Patel used a trip to Barrow to tell voters: ‘It’s time for change’.

Ms Patel visited The Well Communities in Dalton Road to see the work of the drug rehabilitation group as part of the Conservatives’ general election campaign.

She praised the group for providing support for people with addiction issues and helping to tackle drug deaths in the area.

Appealing to voters, she said: “People in this constituency have been let down over Brexit. It’s time for a change here.”

The seat sits on a knife-edge after the Tory candidate Simon Fell lost the 2017 election by 209 votes to then Labour MP John Woodcock.

She said she had visited the community interest company as the Conservatives announced they would put £20m into tackling ‘county lines’ drug dealing.

Asked whether she thought it may have been strange for a Conservative politician to visit a hub for people struggling with poverty and drug addiction, she said the Tories wanted to support community projects - despite recent cuts to funding for drug and alcohol abuse services.

The home secretary and Conservative candidate Simon Fell said they wanted to provide more government funding to The Well.

Ms Patel said: “We support community organisations like this because they perform a vital service.”

Her visit to Barrow comes after similar campaign stops from the defence secretary and education secretary.

Labour hit back at her comments, saying her visit showed the Conservatives were worried about their candidate’s chances.

The Well’s chief executive David Higham raised concerns with the home secretary over cuts to mental health provisions and substance abuse support. But he said he had been reassured by her words.

“We had some fears over recent cuts but she said it was something the government would look in to, he said. “I have to trust what people say.”

Barrow and Furness Labour party candidate Chris Altree said: “The home secretary has been here as part of the Conservative campaign.

"She is the third cabinet minister to visit this town in a week and that illustrates how worried our opponents are.

“People are wondering why they no longer see police officers and PCSOs walking in their high streets and neighbourhoods.

“They are worried about the increase in violent crime and we are committed to not only increasing the number of police officers on our streets, but also to having them working within communities once more.

“In addition we will restore partner services such as support for young people and those suffering with problems such as drug and alcohol abuse which, along with the dramatic cut in police resources and austerity, has created a perfect storm of increased criminality.”