PRIME Minister David Cameron has told the Telegraph & Argus that West Yorkshire could play “the decisive role” in the General Election.

Speaking on a visit to Addingham today, the PM said voters in places like Bradford and Keighley could hold the sway of power.

He also confirmed the Conservatives would continue to push for struggling schools in Bradford to become academies, a policy that has not been popular with some parents and teachers.

Keighley is currently held by Conservative Kris Hopkins and is seen as an important seat for whichever party wants to get into power.

Mr Cameron and several other ministers have already visited in this election campaign.

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Mr Cameron said: "Kris Hopkins has been a very hard working MP, he’s delivered a huge amount to the people of Keighley."

On the importance of Keighley and other Bradford constituencies, he said: "Its a key part of the economy and West Yorkshire could play the decisive role in determining if we keep going with the plan, or if we put it all at risk with Ed Milliband backed by the SNP.

"They would whack up borrowing, whack up taxes to pay for their priorities which wouldn't include West Yorkshire.

"I think people here should feel they have the decisive say."

When asked what big issues people raised with him in the Bradford district, he said: "It all comes back to the economy, whether its the need to tackle entrenched poverty in Bradford or the need for stronger school performance or to make sure all our hospitals are performing as well as Airedale Hospital."

He said more local children were in good or outstanding schools than when they came into power and he said the government would continue to push for underperforming schools to become academies, which has already happened to several Bradford schools.

When given the example of Belle Vue Boys School, which Bradford Council had sought an academy chain for with little success until its takeover by the Beckfoot Academy chain, he said: “The record of academies taking over failing schools is very strong. Sometimes taking school from getting 40 per cent of its pupils getting five good GCSEs to 80 per cent.

"We will work very hard in the new government to make sure this happens. A Labour government doesn’t want academies, they would leave schools failing year on year. You can’t waste any time with education of children."

Mr Cameron also spoke about GP waiting times, referring to his policy of seven day openings for the NHS, adding: “We want to bring this to Bradford. That will make a lot of difference.”

He also praised Yorkshire for how it handled last year’s Tour De France and this past weekend’s Tour De Yorkshire.