Labour's Steve Reed visits Wivenhoe ahead of election

Steve Reed, the Labour Party’s Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, visited Wivenhoe to speak with residents and hear their concerns on pollution in the River Colne.

Mr Reed was joined by General Election candidate, Pam Cox, who is hoping to become Colchester’s next MP on July 4.

The Shadow Cabinet member spoke to The Gazette and explained why he believes she is the right person for the job.

Standing - Pam Cox (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Reed said: “Pam is a really strong candidate, she’s local, she works here, lives here, she is a councillor here, she’s got a really strong track record of working hard and getting things done for local people.

“I think people in Colchester are looking for a local champion and that is Pam.”

Ms Cox, who spent two years in Wivenhoe whilst at Essex University, before moving to Colchester, was delighted with the vote of confidence.

She said: “It’s great to have Steve’s support and the support of other shadow cabinet ministers, I think it shows they have got real confidence in my ability to win this seat.

“But it is not a done deal, we are up against an Olympian, so I need to work very hard but having this support is really helpful in that respect.”

Ms Cox, of the Labour Party, is standing in the General Election for the Colchester seat.

She will be up against: James Cracknell, the Conservative Party; Martin Goss, the Liberal Democrats; Terrance Longstaff, Reform UK; James Rolfe, the Climate Party and Sara Nicola Ruth, the Green Party.