Rishi Sunak speaks on Oxfordshire hospital and 'understands frustrations'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said investment has been pumped into the Horton General Hospital and health services are expanding as he defended his party on the campaign trail in Banbury this afternoon.

Mr Sunak visited a distribution centre in the town having earlier been in Morrisons in Carterton during the final days of campaigning ahead of the General Election on Thursday.

He was joined by Victoria Prentis, Conservative candidate for Banbury, and started the day by answering questions from staff members at DCS Group.

He was challenged by staff over the rising cost of doing business, childcare cost pressures on working parents and SEND assessment waiting times.

Rishi Sunak speaking to staff members at DCS Group in Banbury (Image: Newsquest)

A recent Survation poll revealed that the Conservatives could be facing an historic defeat in Oxfordshire.

When the Prime Minister was asked by us why he has chosen to visit Banbury in the days leading up to the election, he said: “I don't take any vote for granted anywhere.

READ MORE: Banbury: Rishi Sunak asked questions at distribution centre

"Victoria is a dear friend of mine - she's been a brilliant champion for her constituents, I've seen that first-hand over the years we've been in Parliament together, and you can't get a conversation with Victoria without her mentioning the Horton Hospital.

"The choice ahead of everyone on Thursday is really important.

"I understand people's frustrations with me, with our party, it's been a difficult few years - of course, we haven't got everything right or made as much progress as we would have liked - but Thursday is not a by-election.

"It's a choice about the future of our country, and that will have big consequences for everyone and their family finances."

When he was asked about local issues, such as the lack of services at the Horton Hospital, he said he "understands what it's like to be reliant on a small hospital in a rural area".

He said that more investment has been made into the Horton Hospital and that services are expanding.

"Victoria and I have spent our entire parliamentary careers talking about the Horton," he said.

"The Conservatives understand rural communities in a way that Labour never will.

"We understand the role that smaller rural hospitals play, and we've found a way to make sure they can provide more and more services to people."

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Ms Prentis added: "I am really pleased that you can now have much more chemo at the Horton.

"The endoscopy unit is fantastic, we've doubled the scanning capacity, the new ophthalmology equipment is really being used to the full, and I keep hearing from locals who are able to access service close to home which is what we all want.

"What we want is for most issues to be able to be dealt with locally to minimise the travel time to minimise the trauma to families, and that is absolutely what's happening at the Horton.

"The Horton is busier than it's ever been. It's doing more than it's ever done - and yes, I will carry on campaigning to my dying breath for maternity."

Speaking on her commitment to a return of maternity services at the Horton Hospital, Ms Prentis said: "We need obstetrics back.

"The trust say that they've had difficulty recruiting the required numbers of obstetricians - I know that the Prime Minister is very familiar with this issue, because it's exactly the same in his constituency."

Victoria Prentis addressing staff members at DCS Group (Image: Newsquest) The Prime Minister also spoke about migrants staying in local hotels.

"The taxpayers are spending millions of pounds housing illegal migrants in hotels across the country," he said.

"I can sit here and say to everyone in Banbury, if you like me think that the situation is wrong, and people shouldn't be able to stay here in our country, then you've got to vote Conservative, because we're the only ones who can deliver a plan that will mean they don't get to stay in our country and they're removed."

Mr Sunak also answered questions about protecting green spaces and supporting farmers in Oxfordshire.

He said: "We have been crystal clear that we will protect green spaces and protect the green belt, because we think that's an important part of the fabric of what makes our countryside and our communities such special places to live.

"And farmers, there's only one party that can look after their rural needs, and it is a party led by people like Victoria or me."

The parliamentary candidates for Banbury are Victoria Prentis (Conservatives), Sean Woodcock (Labour), Liz Adams (Liberal Democrats), Arron Baker (Green), Paul Topley (Reform UK), Cassi Bellingham (Independent), Chris Nevile (Climate Party) and Declan Soper (Social Democratic Party).