THE LABOUR candidate for the Stroud constituency has spoken out after it was announced this week that the General Election would take place in July,

This week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that a General Election will be held on Thursday, July 4. 

Mr Sunak, who has been Prime Minister since October 2022, has called the election after months of speculation about its date.

Candidates for the Stroud parliamentary constituency have started giving their initial thoughts to the news.  

Dr Simon Opher, Dursley GP and Labour's Parliamentary candidate said: "It's about time.

"I'm relieved that Rishi Sunak has finally called a general election and given us the opportunity to deliver the urgent change that people so desperately need.

"But I'm frustrated that it's taken him so long.

"We should have had this election on 2 May alongside the local elections.

"Instead, councils across the country will have to repeat the process on 4 July at huge additional cost to the taxpayer. 

"Only a Labour Government can rebuild the country and get our future back.

"Here in Stroud, that means voting for me - your Labour candidate - on 4 July.

"While we're getting huge support in every corner of the constituency, this election is not in the bag, and a vote for any other party risks returning Siobhan Baillie and her failed Tory Government to Westminster."

Due to the recent boundary changes, the Stroud constituency will have some changes. 

It has gained Wotton-under-Edge but Bisley,  Hardwicke , Minchinhampton and Painswick and Upton will all form part of the new North Cotswolds constituency. 

The Stroud constituency is formed of: Amberley & Woodchester, Berkeley Vale, Cainscross, Cam East, Cam West, Chalford, Coaley & Uley, Dursley, Nailsworth , Randwick, Whiteshill & Ruscombe, Rodborough, Severn, Stonehouse, Stroud Central, Stroud Farmhill & Paganhill, Stroud Slade, Stroud Trinity, Stroud Uplands, Stroud Valley, The Stanleys, Thrupp and Wotton-under-Edge