Wokingham hosted another visit from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey yesterday (Monday) ahead of this week’s general election.
His battle bus, dubbed ‘Yellowhammer One’, rolled into Elms Field for another of his famous publicity stunts in support of candidate Clive Jones.
Sir Ed took part in a Zumba session with local liberal democrat councillors and supporters, part of which featured live on the ITV lunchtime news.
He took part in the session to highlight his party’s planned support for bereaved families, a plan that he said will enable them to live life to the full.
He said: “Living life and being healthy is so important, and giving families who suffer bereavement support is really important.”
Speaking about the meaning of this, he said: “I have found some of the other party’s campaigns a bit dull, a bit predictable, a bit unambitious. What we try to do is have a bit of fun.”
Having already visited the Wokingham constituency many times in recent weeks, the Lib Dem leader said he would be “.. disappointed for the people of Wokingham if Clive Jones were not elected as their MP.”
“He will be a fantastic MP. He’d be the best MP that Wokingham has ever had.”
He added that the serious message behind yesterday’s stunts is that people should consider doing something they’ve never done before.
“If you’ve a former Conservative voter, or a young voter who may never have voted before, why don’t you do that?”
Asked whether the moves he showed during his Zumba class were a potential audition for Strictly Come Dancing at some point in the future, he told Wokingham Today: “I doubt I’d make Strictly.
“We had Shannon, who is a great instructor, and I couldn’t keep up with her.
“But I tend to ‘go for it’, as you know.
“I have found some of the other parties’ campaigns to be a bit dull, a bit predictable and a bit unambitious.
“What we try to do is have a bit of fun with a serious messages, and we couldn’t be more serious about our message today, but also with a lot of passion and emotion.”
The Zumba class in Elms Field was led by Shannon Martin.
She told Wokingham Today how it was a huge surprise when she got a phone call to ask her about the event.
It was a huge surprise when I got the phone call.
“When I was told it was for Sir Ed Davey, I jumped at the chance.
“He’s a great sport, and I think he wanted to carry on.”
