Rishi Sunak wishes Bingley well in next round of 'levelling up' bid

Rishi Sunak visited The Lounge cafe, on Queen Street, before heading to a new health diagnosis centre in Oldham.

His visit came after the town's 14.4m 'levelling up' bid, which would have allowed for the re-opening of Bingley swimming pool, was rejected last month.

The Telegraph & Argus was not invited to the event and was therefore unable to ask direct questions about the bid, but in a statement released afterwards the Prime Minister said: "I wish the Council every success with their bids in the next round of levelling-up funding.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Shipley MP Philip Davies (Image: UGC)

Around 40 people were in the room as Mr Sunak spoke with attendees and took photos.

Jamie Illingworth, Bingley Chamber of Trade President, said: "Philip Davies asked him to come and visit.

"He overran by half an hour as he was speaking to everyone and answered tricky questions.

"Everybody wants the levelling up funding so that the Bingley pool plans can be done."

Danika and Kath Lamb, who run The Lounge, had been at their cafe since 4.30am to prepare for the 8am visit.

Kath added: "We were talking to him about the difficulties in the hospitality sector.

"Energy costs are high, triple times what they were before. At the end of the month, I am having sleepless nights.

"We would not have survived without the small business rate relief.

"We told Rishi it is tough times. He understood that it is difficult."