“EVERY day, more and more Conservative MPs are throwing in the town – now John Redwood has,” says shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves.
On a visit to meet Labour’s candidates for Earley and Woodley, Reading Central and Reading West and Mid-Berkshire, she shared with Reading Today her view on the decision by the veteran Wokingham MP to step down.
Sir John had been selected by his party in February last year, but announced on Friday, May 24 that he would not be putting his name on the ballot paper on July 4. It brings to an end his 37 years as an MP.
On a visit to Pangbourne on Friday, May 24, Ms Reeves said: “Labour have a great candidate in Wokingham in the form of Monica Hamidi.
“We also have some fantastic candidates here today in Reading West and Mid Berkshire in Liv Bailey and Yuan Yang, who is our candidate in Earley and Woodley.
“These are two seats that Labour are hoping to win, and it really shows that, under Keir Starmer’s leadership there are no no go areas for Labour. We’re fighting hard and there is no complacency.
“We are working to get Labour MPs elected here.”
Reading East MP Matt Rodda, who will be the party’s candidate for Reading Central when parliament is dissolved next week, said he is not focusing on the lack of Conservative candidates for his new constituency or in Wokingham.
“I’m focused on campaigning wholeheartedly for a Labour government,” he said.
“I’ve been really hearted by the support we’ve had from the public already, just in the first few hours of me standing here in Pangbourne next to the river.
“We’ve had several cars and vans beeping and waving at us as we were waiting for Rachel Reeves.
“There is a real sense around the country that there is a desire change … and a real need for change. I think that is the issue in this election, and I am going to focus completely on that.”
