With just over a week to go until the General Election, that this evening’s final, televised Prime Ministerial Debate between the Conservative and Labour Party hopefuls was being held in Nottingham has been well publicised nationwide.
What wasn’t so widely known is what would be happening beforehand. RUDDINGTON.info can reveal not only that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was in Nottinghamshire in very good time, but also that he chose to have lunch today in our village – at The Ruddington Arms! This is another coup for the Wilford Road gastropub – which previously has hosted Royal visitors Caroline, Princess of Hanover and Albert II, Prince of Monaco – daughter and son of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III – during a trip to the area in August 2018.
Other lunchtime diners today (26th June 2024) at our popular village pub initially did a double-take when Sir Kier and his entourage arrived unexpectedly to enjoy a meal, and to make last-minute preparations for tonight’s BBC leaders’ debate. Whilst photographs at the venue were not being encouraged, a post on The Ruddington Arms Facebook page after the visit reveals:
“It’s not every day we have the next Prime Minister (if you believe the polls) in for lunch. No selfie, just a signed momento” accompanied by the image below:
We are not party to whereabouts Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had lunch ahead of tonight’s televised head-to-head. However, the Labour leader’s choice of Nottinghamshire venue may not be entirely random, in that the Rushcliffe constituency is one of those being targeted by his party. The Conservatives have held this seat since 1970 when it was won by The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke. In 2019 MP Ruth Edwards held onto it for the Tories.
A list of all the candidates standing in Rushcliffe in the 4th July 2024 General Election can be found >>HERE<<.
