Where was Keir Starmwr today?

Tue 2 Jul, 12:18 (last edited on Tue 2 Jul, 12:19)

Yes by "Witney" Rowena means the constituency. More exciting details here in her expanded report:

How Sunak is focusing on seats with large Tory majorities in final 48 hours before polling day

'Sunak’s visits have also been conducted in spaces where he has little contact with the public outside of their workplaces. Workers have been visited in full view of their bosses – at least two of which were Tory donors.

'A visit to a Morrisons supermarket in the Witney constituency was conducted when it was almost empty at opening time. The Tories are under pressure from the Lib Dems in the seat but one early customer in the aisles said he had been a lifelong Tory voter and was now backing Reform. Asked if he wanted to see Rishi Sunak, he said: “I’ll go the other way, thanks.”'

There is an accompanying picture with the caption: 'Rishi Sunak in a near-empty Morrisons supermarket in Carterton this morning.'

Tue 2 Jul, 11:51

There isn’t a Morrisons in Witney is there? It must have been Carterton. He probably thinks the Waitrose shoppers are already in the bag.

Tue 2 Jul, 09:40

Now Rishi Sunak has been in the area this morning. Rowena Mason reports:

"Now Rishi Sunak has been looking at fish and packing bread in a near-empty Morrisons in Witney - former seat of David Cameron, majority 15,000.

"Conservatives under pressure from Lib Dems here but we also met an angry former Tory voter, backing Reform, in the chilled goods aisle"

Tue 2 Jul, 09:20

It was a lovely occasion attended by Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Darren Jones, widely reported because of its location - as amusingly put by John Crace in the article Matthew quotes. You can also see a few moments on BBC Breakfast at 7.02 on iplayer.

Tue 2 Jul, 07:59 (last edited on Tue 2 Jul, 08:05)

Shows what a hotly contested seat this is, and how hard Labour is working for it. The Banbury seat has been held by the Conservatives for 102 years, it's never a good position to be in to have your vote taken for granted. 

Tue 2 Jul, 00:02

It was a farm near Swerford, owned by a former Labour councillor who I think painted a CND logo on the roof of his barn as it was on the Upper Heyford landing path…..

Mon 1 Jul, 22:13 (last edited on Mon 1 Jul, 22:38)

No, not Clarkson's. Somewhere near Soho Farmhouse apparently.

This was quite funny from the excellent John Crace in the Guardian:

Starmer advances on the Tory countryside with his flag of unenthusiastic hope

"Monday morning had started off in Hitchin and would end in a farm near Chipping Norton. No, not Jeremy Clarkson’s. Things aren’t quite that bad for the Tories yet. Though Rishi Sunak may not agree. Starmer planting his flag on Lord Big Dave’s back lawn is quite the f*** you. Who knows, maybe Sam Cam had suggested it herself. I’ve always suspected that her support for Big Dave was conditional. The only person left who thinks the Tories have a prayer is Michael Gove. And he’s out of his head on drugs. Whatever he’s taking, it’s best avoided."

Video of Starmer's visit to Banbury constituency here (advance to 13 mins 50 secs for the start).

Mon 1 Jul, 21:59

Excuse typo .. on a bus.

Mon 1 Jul, 21:58

Apparently he was at "a farm near Chipping Norton". Presumably not Clarksons?