SHADOW Home Secretary Chris Grayling believes that frustrations surrounding anti-social behaviour in Warrington including the Garry Newlove murder will help the Conservatives win election seats.

Mr Grayling, who contested the Warringon South seat in the 1997 General Election, is convinced that the Tory’s intention to take a tougher stance on punishing yobs will mean more voters pledging support in May.

He said: “There are deep rooted problems in Warrington with violence going back to the Garry Newlove case.

“We need a criminal justice system that tackles this problem.”

Speaking after visiting Stockton Heath to support the Conservative bid to overthrow the Labour majority, Mr Grayling said that key areas on the election battlefield will include health services and schools, with issues surrounding small businesses playing a crucial role.

Mr Grayling, who caused a stir earlier this year when he supported the rights of bed and breakfast operators to turn homosexual couples away, also had a warning to long-term benefit claimants announcing the Conservatives would push through reforms to the welfare system.

He said: “The Tories would introduce reforms so people cannot plan to stay at home on benefits.

“After the reforms people won’t be paid unless they are successful so there should be an incentive to do it.

“We’ve got to get people back to work as we don’t want a situation where all of the new jobs are going to people from overseas.”

Mr Grayling claims that such approaches are working, with more people in Warrington turning away from Labour.

“They are the classic government that have been in power too long and their policies have been directly responsible for the financial crisis.”