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The Labour leader was rallying activists at the Co-op's New Century Hall when Manchester United boss Alec Ferguson, Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall and actor John Mills backed the campaign.

Mr Blair met no ordinary voters on his visit and is not expected to make a personal appearance in Blackley where the party is confident of keeping a massive majority won in 1997 by MP Graham Stringer.

Since Prime Minister Tony Blair called an election for June 7, Parliament has been suspended under election rules and Blackley constituency will be without an MP until after polling day.