IN 2013 I attended a jobs fair at Daresbury Innovation Centre and was impressed by the calibre of people actively seeking jobs.

I noted that this was to be an annual event to be held alternatively in the east and west of Weaver Vale. The 2014 fair was held in Northwich in May 2014.

Imagine my surprise to learn that the 2015 fair was held again in Northwich in February.

Surely this cannot be a cynical attempt by our Tory MP to curry favour and gain a few votes prior to the General Election? The jobs fair in 2014 was held on May 29. We would expect the next annual event to take place in May 2015.

The change to February is a transparent action demonstrating his fear of a forthcoming defeat.

For him to exploit unemployment in such a callous manner is appalling.

It is clear our Tory MP has realised there are no votes to be gained for him in Runcorn and has thus effectively written us off, preferring to invest his time and energy in Northwich where he clearly believes he can elicit a few votes resulting from the jobs fair and its publicity.

He is still our elected representative and needs to acknowledge that Runcorn is surrounded by a business community which has been disproportionately hit by the economic downturn.

Has the Tory MP somehow forgotten that Weaver Vale encompasses not just Northwich, Hartford and Weaverham but also Runcorn east, Frodsham, Helsby and surrounding areas?

I’m sure the electorate will remind him of that fact on May 7.

Dr Iris Keating

* The World contacted Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans for a response, who said: “All of the jobs fairs have been very well attended by both employers and job seekers and potential apprentices and there have always been many hundreds of vacancies available.

"Our records give no indication that Dr Keating has attended a previous event.

"The latest fair is my fourth and is purely to help job seekers find employment, as well as offering advice about apprenticeships and training.

"This is something as the MP for Weaver Vale I am passionate about.

"I’m delighted to say that the event on Thursday was another huge success. There were more than 45 employers on hand, hundreds of positions available, and several hundred prospective employees and apprentices came along to see what was on offer.

"I’m happy to help anybody trying to get into work. There’s nothing political about that and that’s what the jobs fair is all about."