Keir Starmer takes Labour battle bus to 'safe' rural Tory seats

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves met voters in Chipping Norton today (Tuesday, July 2).

Sir Keir appeared on the Labour battle bus at an event in the town to meet local people and support Oxfordshire’s Labour MP candidates.

He stood in support of Veronica Oakeshott who is standing in Bicester and Woodstock.

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Labour said that according to "multiple polls" at least half of the six constituencies in Oxfordshire could send Labour MPs to Westminster "if people turn out to vote".

Keir Starmer is touring usually 'safe' rural Conservative seats (Image: PA)

Oxford East has been held by Labour since 1987. Banbury and the new seat of Bicester & Woodstock are in contention, with the latter race causing particular excitement.

It has been described as ‘hotly contested’ and a ‘three-way marginal’ (ITV), a ‘Toss up’ (Ipsos) and ‘a three-way fight’ (The Economist).

Ms Oakeshott said she "could offer more than just a chance to ‘get the Tories out’".

She said: “My Lib Dem opponent’s whole pitch has been to vote tactically for him, based on a few now outdated polls.

"This is not representative of reality and also begs the question: Then what? Opposition is his party’s best hope, and that’s no place to actually deliver from.”

She said she was well received at a hustings in Kidlington, Bicester and Woodstock last week and claimed "the momentum" is with her.

But she said: “The Conservative candidate - who has been unrepentant about inflicting austerity on the UK and doesn’t even live in the constituency - could still win.

"I live here, use our overstretched public services, and know what needs fixing. I’ve spent my life as a charity leader getting the law changed to protect vulnerable people.

"As a Labour MP in a Labour government, I’ll be able to get things done in a way that an opposition MP never will.

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves were in Banbury on Monday (Image: PA)

"If voters turn out and vote for me on Thursday July 4th, I will win change for residents here.”

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Lib Dem campaign convenor Gareth Epps said Ms Oakeshott's claims that Labour were best placed to win Bicester and Woodstock showed her campaign "has now abandoned any semblance of credibility".  

He said: "Keir Starmer doesn't think she can win here. Since November, Labour has been telling its volunteers in Bicester and Woodstock to campaign in Banbury, and Starmer went there, not to Bicester.

"In contrast, Ed Davey has visited Bicester and Woodstock twice.

"This week, the Daily Mirror and all tactical voting websites are recommending support for Lib Dem Calum Miller in Bicester and Woodstock to defeat the Conservatives.

"Voting Labour will just let the Tories win."

Yesterday (July 1) Sir Keir, Rachel Reeves and shadow Treasury chief secretary Darren Jones visited Heath Farm, near Banbury as he continued his tour of the usually safe Conservative rural seats.

Sir Keir spoke to activists in a woodshed next to a motorcycle garage and at a sourdough bakery.

The candidates in Bicester and Woodstock are: Rupert Harrison, Con; Calum Miller, Lib Dem; Ian Middleton, Green Party; Tim Funnell, Social Democratic Party; Augustine Obodo, Reform UK.