THE Prime Minister visited a primary school near Stonehouse this afternoon as part of his General Election campaign.

Mr Sunak met with pupils and staff at Great Oldbury Primary Academy during a visit alongside Conservative candidate and former MP Siobhan Baillie and treasury minister Laura Trott.

The visit came amid widespread criticism of Mr Sunak's decision to leave an international D-Day landing ceremony in Normandy early for a TV interview.

Speaking at the school in Veterans Way, Mr Sunak said it was always his plan to leave early following the end of UK-related events.

“My itinerary for these things was set a long time ago before the election started, weeks ago," he said.

The PM spoke about improving teacher vacancies, reopening Stroud Maternity Hospital and shared his thoughts on whether Tories will keep seats in the county.

For photos from the visit see here: Pictures as Rishi Sunak meets pupils at school near Stroud

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Great Oldbury Primary Academy - which is located in Veterans Way (Image: PA)

Stroud Maternity Hospital

During the visit Mr Sunak and Ms Baillie also spoke to the SNJ about fully reopening Stroud Maternity Hospital, where postnatal beds are currently only available for six to 12 hours after a birth.

Last week it was revealed that the beds would not reopen this year.

Mr Sunak said: “It’s clear that there have been areas of concern in maternity services in the UK which is why we had various reports, which the government has responded to with more funding from maternity services across the NHS.

“And beyond that, we’re also making sure that we train more midwives and health care professionals in maternity as part of the long term workforce plan as Siobhan said so that funding has gone in place.

“So that longer term we’re growing the workforce in maternity and making sure that families everywhere get the care and the support that they need.

Ms Baillie added: “Gloucestershire NHS is working really hard with midwife recruitment, and we’re hugely proud of our local midwives.

“So I will continue to campaign to get those postnatal beds open."

(left to right) Siobhan Baillie Conservative parliamentary candidate, PM Rishi Sunak, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott speaking to headteacher Hayley Hall - photo by PA

PM "confident" about winning in Stroud and rest of county 

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak said he was 'confident' the Conservatives could win in Stroud and elsewhere in Gloucestershire.

He said: “I am confident because we’ve got fantastic candidates like Siobhan, Alex, Richard and others who work very hard for their communities and have got a track record of delivering for them and making sure that this area gets the investment it needs.

“Young people get the opportunities they need too, and I think people can recognise, recognise their hard work and dedication to the area.”

Ms Baillie said: “Stroud has always been a marginal and I really like a challenge. 

“It's going to be a really interesting debate and a really interesting election. 

“We’ve got new boundaries as well and I am very, very much up for it. 

"And it’s fantastic to have the Prime Minister here today supporting me as well.”

Candidates for the Stroud constituency include Conservative Siobhan Baillie, Lib Dem George James, Green Pete Kennedy, Reform UK’s Christopher Lester, Labour’s Simon Opher, Independent Saskia Whitfield and Volt UK's Jason Hughes.