DUDLEY North MP Marco Longhi has lent his support to a campaign group aimed at representing working class people in Westminster.

The newly-elected MP has joined Blue Collar Conservatism, a group of 125 MPs who are working to develop domestic polices away from the 'Westminster bubble'.

The group claims to want to reconnect with communities 'let down' by Labour and to create a post-Brexit domestic policy agenda.

Mr Longhi, who won Dudley North with a majority of more than 11,000 votes last December, said: "Blue Collar Conservatism is about having conversations with regular people and breaking free from the Westminster bubble. We want to get out there and engage with people, some of who may have never shown in interest in politics before, and hear what they think needs to happen to secure a better future for generations to come."

Dudley North was one of a handful of seats dubbed the 'red wall' to fall to the Conservatives in December's election, having previously been a traditional Labour stronghold.

The Tory campaign group plans to tour the country to capture public opinion on issues including education, housing, the NHS and transport.

Mr Longhi added: "We have seen the red wall fall. Aspirational voters have put their trust in us to deliver a programme of real change and success. This new Conservative government has already announced record investment in our NHS, infrastructure projects and education system. Dudley North residents will see a renewed United Kingdom in a post-Brexit world.”

The group is led by Esther McVey MP and relaunched in 2018 having previously been founded in 2012.

Ms McVey explained: "We are about common sense, reconnecting with people and bringing working peoples’ voices to Parliament. We have to make sure we deliver for the people who put their faith in us for the first time and lent us their vote.

“We want to spin Westminster on its head and break free from the Westminster bubble and think tanks and get out there and listen to people and do what is right for the people we represent. We want to make a difference to our high streets, to transport, to the NHS, to education and have a real impact on shaping our future.”

Information collected from the tour will be analysed by area before MPs set out their findings and demands to ministers.