Mr Brown with workers at Asda, Donnington Wood

The Gordon Brown roadshow hit town to drum up support in the close-run Telford and Wrekin seats — but the Prime Minister found himself being put on the spot with some tough questions on live television.

Staff at Asda at Donnington Wood got the chance to quiz Mr Brown during a question and answer session in the store’s warehouse during yesterday’s visit.

Addressing more than a dozen staff, he praised the store and also its efforts in raising money for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Louise Anyon, 22, from Newport, asked why women in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are called for a cervical smear test when they are 20, while women in England have to wait until they are 25.

Mr Brown said Labour had tried to make screening more readily available and promised he would raise the issue with the chief medical officer.

After the encounter Miss Anyon said: “Cervical cancer is a silent killer. There are no signs of it and by the time a woman goes for the test at 25 it could be too late. I hope he keeps his word.”

Paralysed

Sophie Banner, 21, from Leegomery, told the Prime Minister she and her partner were first-time buyers but they could not find anyone who would offer them a mortgage.

She said: “My partner and I have saved for a deposit but only seven mortgages are currently available to us and none of the lenders offering them will help.”

Mr Brown told her that stamp duty was being waived for first-time buyers and urged her to consider “equity sharing”, also known as shared ownership, by which people can buy a share in their home.

Jess Regan, 28, from Trench, asked the PM what help he could offer the unemployed as her partner had recently lost his job. Mr Brown advised her partner to seek help from advisors at JobCentre Plus.

Lisa McPhearson, from St Georges, said: “My nephew was paralysed from the chest down in an accident last August when he was 15.

“At the moment, the only benefits he gets now are less than he would get it he signed on fortnightly.”

Mr Brown said the issue was disability benefit and told Lisa that Labour was looking at the issue and it might be that her nephew was entitled to a higher rate of benefit.

Ramman Gautam, 31, from Telford, quizzed Mr Brown on skilled immigrants coming into the country who could not get a job.

He was told because he had a specific personal question he was to speak with Telford’s candidate David Wright after the meeting.

Afterwards Mr Gautam said:”I think immigration is a hot potato to be honest. I think in Canada and Australia there is a fantastic points system which I think works.

“He was very eloquent and very confident. He seemed to have the right idea for the country, certainly on the financial side.”

By Jason Lavan