Cameron tells parents he will make their new school dream come true

The Tory leader spoke at a rally in Birkenshaw, in Labour-held Batley and Spen, to address hundreds of parents and children whose appeal for a new school was rejected by the Government.

Accompanied by Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove, Mr Cameron said: "You've got the belief, I've got the faith in you, and together we can make this happen."

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Mr Cameron confirmed the party has included Schools Secretary Ed Balls's Morley and Outwood seat among an extended list of targets. He appealed to voters in parts of the region still scarred from Tory policies in the 1980s to give the party another chance.

The rally was organised by the Birkenshaw, Birstall and Gomersal Parents' Alliance (BBGPA), which wants to open its own 900-place secondary because of fears that a shake-up of the schools will force children to travel out of the area.

Mr Balls has been issued with a 60 fine for driving while using a mobile phone, it was disclosed last night. Mr Balls, who is married to fellow Cabinet Minister Yvette Cooper, said it happened last Sunday when they were driving from Yorkshire to London with their children. Although the car had a hands-free phone he took his phone off the cradle because he "did not want to wake the children".