THE Tories have rolled out the big guns as they try to win back the Clacton constituency from Ukip.

William Hague, the First Secretary of State, joined Conservative candidate Giles Watling on the General Election campaign trail in Clacton on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Hague said the Tories could win back the seat from Douglas Carswell, who won October’s by-election with a 12,404-vote majority. 

“This is one of the constituencies that can decide who is the Government, who is the Prime Minister,” he said.

“People will wake up on May 8 with David Cameron or Ed Miliband as Prime Minister.

“Having a Conservative majority, securing the economic recovery of the country, is something the people of Clacton can bring about by voting Conservative.

“Unemployment in Clacton has fallen in Clacton by 3,500 since 2010. This is happening under a Conservative-led Government.

“The amount of people we have got back into work is the most important thing of all."

Mr Watling said: “It’s wonderful and a great honour to have people coming down here to support me, particularly ministers of state like William. It’s a great fillip for my campaign.

“I’ve had a wonderful response on the doorstep and people are talking to me in a very positive way.

“They are keen on the message I have got both locally, as a local man, and the message I’ve got nationally, which is that George Osborne is doing  a stunning job getting us out of the deepest recession in living memory and don’t stop him now – we are nearly there.”

For the full exclusive interview with Mr Hague, see next week's Clacton, Frinton and Walton Gazette.