MPs’ expenses, salacious headlines and tittle-tattle about their MP’s love life were the last things on the minds of Newtown voters when Lembit Opik hit the campaign trail.

The long-serving MP was welcomed with open arms during a walkabout in Newtown market yesterday.

Mr Opik was seeking to persuade voters that he is their man for the future and he received plenty of encouragement from locals.

Mrs Eirwen Turner, who was out shopping for the afternoon, told him not to worry when people criticised.

She said: “He’s been doing a good job. He can’t please all the people all the time.”

Others had a similar message, saying he remained popular in his constituency, despite tabloid reports of his personal life during recent years.

Mr Opik said he was determined to safeguard jobs in Newtown, Welshpool and other parts of Mid Wales, if re-elected.

He said: “Saving jobs is my number one priority.

“The people of Welshpool and Newtown need work, they need good health care and they need a good education for their youngsters.

“Those are the things that people are talking about on the doorstep.”

Campaigning is never easy and Mr Opik was delayed by many local people en route to meet his local newspaper.

“I’m sorry it’s taken a while to get here,” he said. “You probably saw people stopping me on the street. They want to talk about the things that concern them and it’s my job to listen. I hope you won’t mind.”

Other locals offered support and were willing to put their names to his election pamphlet.

Devika Tharan, of Newtown, said: “Lembit has shown huge commitment to Montgomeryshire. He has worked very hard to protect and improve local services over the years.”

Farmer Paul Phillips, of Bronairth Farm, added: “I like the fact that Lembit is such a straightforward person. He really stands up for farmers and for our rural communities.”