In Pictures: Party leaders craft their campaign messages with pottery throw down

By Press Association

June 27 2024, 6:52 pm

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey painting pottery during a visit to Vale House, Marple Bridge in Greater Manchester (Peter Byrne/PA)

The main party leaders demonstrated their craft skills on Thursday as they marked a week to go to election day by taking part in rival pottery-themed campaign visits.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the Denby Pottery Factory in Ripley, Derbyshire, and tried his hand at dipping pots, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Duchess China in Longton, Stoke.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey joined his candidate in Greater Manchester where they showed off their pot-painting skills.

Sir Keir Starmer laughing with a potter — Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks with potter Keith Brymer Jones during his visit to Duchess China in Longton, Stoke (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer chats with celebrity potter Keith Brymer — Sir Keir certainly appeared to be enjoying himself with the celebrity potter (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey showing his pottery with candidate Lisa Smart — Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey was also having fun painting pottery with Lisa Smart, his party’s candidate for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester (Peter Byrne/PA)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak laughing — Even Rishi Sunak seemed to be laughing in the face of his party’s poor standings in the polls (Joe Giddens/PA)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dipping pots with staff member Georgia Plinston during his visit to Denby Pottery Factory, Ripley — The Prime Minister was dipping pots during a visit to Denby Pottery Factory in Ripley (Joe Giddens/PA)

Nigel Farage speaks to a reporter in front of a half-empty hall — Elsewhere, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage talked to the media ahead of a meeting at Rainton Arena in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear (Tom Wilkinson/PA)

Sir Keir Starmer speaks in front of three students — Later in the day, Sir Keir talked to students at Burton and South Derbyshire College in Burton-on-Trent (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Scotland may have been knocked out of the Euros but that didn’t stop SNP leader John Swinney enjoying a game of football with some local children at Portobello Beach

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for North Shropshire Helen Morgan walking some alpacas at Clivewood Farm in North Shropshire — And Sir Ed ended his day with Liberal Democrat candidate for North Shropshire Helen Morgan by taking some alpacas for a walk at Clivewood Farm in North Shropshire (Matthew Cooper/PA)