Labour councillors and activists have recently welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy to Reading for a campaign stop.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy made a campaign stop in Reading this week, meeting Labour councillors and candidates ahead of the borough council elections.
Mr Lammy, who is also justice secretary for the Labour government, met the team at the council offices in Bridge Street before joining Labour members for canvassing in Battle ward — an area that covers much of Oxford Road and nearby neighbourhoods, particularly around Kensington Park.
Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the leader of the council, said he came to visit and meet with the candidates for the forthcoming elections. "We met at the civic offices, where he spoke to our candidates, wished them well and encouraged them to let residents know about the great things we’re doing in Reading."
Sitting councillor Jacopo Lanzoni (Labour, Caversham) called the visit “an honour and a privilege”. Cllr Rachel Eden (Labour, Whitley) added: “It was all about getting out and campaigning – we welcomed Mr Lammy to Reading this morning and Team Whitley were out chatting to residents this lunchtime. “If you want to help stop the populist right – come and join us!”
The local elections are on Thursday 7 May, when a third of councillors in Reading Borough will be elected. Votes will take place in all 18 wards after the political map was redrawn for the all‑out election in 2022; there was no election in Reading in 2025 because it was a fallow year.
Battle ward is expected to be competitive. The incumbent, Cllr Sarah Hacker, is now an Independent after being expelled from the Labour Party in 2023, and Raphaelle Boulas is the Labour candidate for the ward.
Mr Lammy is the Labour MP for Tottenham.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
