Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer are launching Labour’s battle bus as the general election campaigning goes into overdrive – and yes, the coach is Ulez-compliant.
The party is starting its 5,000-mile General Election tour within London’s ultra low emission zone but the new Yutong coach is compliant with the regulations so will not incur a charge.
It features 35 seats and a fridge and will carry key Labour figures, staff and media to campaign events across the country before polling day on July 4.
The word ‘Change’ – a key Labour slogan – appears on the side of the red-coloured coach 15 times.
Angela Rayner said she has been ‘looking forward to this day’ at the launch of Labour’s campaign battle bus tour.
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, at the launch event for Labour’s campaign bus in Uxbridge
The deputy Labour leader was flanked by Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves in front of the red bus emblazoned repeatedly with the word ‘change’ in Uxbridge, west London.
Ms Rayner said: ‘I’m going to really enjoy being out and about up and down the country on our bus.
‘We want to send a message to the people of this country – we are a changed Labour Party, in the service of working people.
‘And we will never ride high and roughshod on the economy.’
Sir Keir Starmer launched Labour’s battle bus in Uxbridge, west London, by jokingly comparing the vehicle to Tory defections to his party.
He said: ‘All week she’s (Angela Rayner) been showing me photographs of her bus and now I’ve come to see this fantastic bus.
‘It’s rather like Tory defectors. You wait for ages and then three come along in a row.
‘But this one, Ange, I’m reliably told has got a fridge in the back of it. So check that Boris Johnson isn’t in there. He used to be around these parts.’
