Darren Jones MP visited Gloucester this week in support of Labour’s newly selected parliamentary candidate, Alex McIntyre.

Jones joined McIntyre and members of the local Labour Party on a visit to Gloucester Quays to take a tour of the major £1 billion regeneration project underway in the historic docks. The team visited local businesses, including popular sandwich shop On Toast, whose owner reflected on the challenges facing independent businesses since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many residents may recognise Jones as the Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee, where recent sessions have seen businesses from Amazon to Royal Mail grilled by the Bristol North West MP. On visiting Gloucester, Jones reflected on the current reality for businesses owners:

“It’s fantastic to be in Gloucester visiting Alex, one of our excellent Labour candidates. Speaking to local business owners, it’s clear they’re facing the same challenges as businesses up and down the country. The Chancellor’s speech this week made it clear that the Tories have no plan to support businesses like On Toast, or our wider economy, in the short term or the future. It’s time for a Labour government that will build a brighter future for Gloucester.”

After taking a tour of the Quays, Jones and McIntyre spoke to local residents on Quayside Way, where concerns about the rising cost-of-living and local NHS services were heard on almost every doorstep.

McIntyre enjoyed the chance to show MP Jones around, but speaking to residents makes clear the scale of the challenges they face:

“It’s fantastic to have Darren here to visit and I was proud to show him the extraordinary potential we have here in Gloucester. However, thirteen years of Tory Government has held our city back, and working people are paying the price. Speaking to residents it’s clear that the cost-of-living crisis is having an enormous impact on families here in Gloucester, but the Government continue to leave them out in the cold. I’ll be working hard to show how Labour will bring real change to Gloucester, supporting residents when they need it most.”