Shadow business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been to the new Ribble Valley constituency to support Labour candidate Maya Ellis' bid to win the heavily redrawn seat on July 4.

As well as joining local party supporters on the doorstep talking to voters, Mr Reynolds visited the Fulwood headquarters of Key Group, a financial services company which specialises in products for people over 55 and employs nearly 500 people.

Mr Reynolds discussed the challenges and opportunities which lay ahead for Lancashire-based financial and professional services businesses with Key Group chief executive Simon Thompson.

Mrs Ellis said: “It was fantastic that Jonathan was able to join me on the campaign trail to hear about the amazing businesses, highly skilled workforce, and incredible investment potential we have right across Ribble Valley.

“But more importantly, the time we spent with Simon and his team revealed just how much the economic instability of the past two years has not only affected Key Group’s business, it has also created financial uncertainties for many of Key Group’s customers."

Mr Reynolds said: “I’m delighted Maya gave me the chance to visit the Ribble Valley constituency and meet brilliant Lancashire businesses like Key Group in Fulwood.

"But as our discussions with Simon and his team revealed, there is so much more that the next government could be doing to support companies like this."

Mr Thompson said: “Having the opportunity to discuss our business with Jonathan and the economic instability and financial headwinds we’ve been battling with in recent years was warmly welcomed.”

The new boundaries include five wards which previously fell within the Preston and Wyre and Preston North constituencies, while 10 former Ribble Valley wards now sit within the newly created seat of Pendle with Clitheroe.

At the 2019 election, Conservative candidate Nigel Evans defended the old Ribble Valley seat with a majority of 18,439.

The full list of candidates is: Qasim Ajmi - Independent; John Carroll – Reform UK; Maya Ellis – Labour Party; Nigel Evans – Conservative Party; Caroline Montague - Green Party; and John Potter – Liberal Democrats.