6:38pm Wednesday 12th November 2008
By John Harrison
Shrieking babies, pregnant mothers and some of the town's unemployed greeted Gordon Brown during a visit to Watford this afternoon.
In between tackling a ferocious Prime Minister's Question Time at lunchtime, and meeting The Queen at Buckingham Palace this evening, Mr Brown found time to visit a Sure Start centre in Gammons Lane and a training provider in Clarendon Road.
His first stop - the Beechfield Children's Centre - saw the Prime Minister officially open the Sure Start centre.
After unveiling a gold plaque, Mr Brown chatted with mothers, cuddled babies and met parents-to-be inside the centre, which is run by the YMCA.
During his visit he also came face-to-face with his namesake, “Mr Brown” - a toy bear belonging to two-year-old Millie-Ann.
After chatting with the Prime Minister, Millie-Ann's mother, Hazel Cokeley, said: “He asked the ages and names of my children, and said George (Hazel's five-month-old son) had beautiful blue eyes.
“It was nice he took time to speak to us and ask about the centre.”
Before leaving, the Prime Minister told staff: “Can I just say what a pleasure it is to be here. Sure Start centres are right at the heart of everything the Government is doing.
“I believe this centre will bring great success to the area, and support children in the most important years of their life.”
Mr Brown's chauffeur-driven Jaguar then whisked him across town to Seetec – a company that works alongside the Job Centre to help the town's increasing numbers of jobless residents back into work.
Inside the Clarendon Road office the Prime Minister talked with many of Watford's out of work residents.
One of those was Amir Butt, of St Albans Road, who is a former prison guard at The Mount.
Amir, who recently found himself out of work, said: “I have actually got two jobs I am hoping to get here, so he asked me about them and wished me the best of luck getting one of them.”
After a lengthy meet-and-greet, the Prime Minister spoke live on television and radio stations, as well as to the Watford Observer.
He said: “I have come to visit Watford today to meet mothers and children and to see one of our Sure Start programmes.
“I was able to talk to some mothers while I was there and then I have been able to come here to make sure people can see we are doing everything we can tackle the global economic problems we are facing at the moment.”
Watford MP, Claire Ward, who accompanied Mr Brown on his visit, added: “These are two really important issues in the town; one about what we are doing to support children and families and then of course coming to a place like Seetec, where they are trying to get people back into employment.”
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