Sir Keir Starmer: "You could make easy pocket money clearing stones for the local farmers, that was actually my first job."
Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer has promoted his passion for the countryside and his rural roots ahead of the next General Election.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed voters will head to the polls in a snap General Election on July 4.
With political parties making their pitches to the general public, Sir Keir delivered a speech to voters in Sussex on Monday (May 27) where he mentioned his connection to rural life, working on farms and the countryside representing the 'best of British'.
READ NOW: General Election: What does it mean for farming and who will farmers be voting for?
"I grew up in a small town, not a million miles away from here, a place called Oxted on the Surrey-Kent border," he said.
"You will see a place that, in my opinion, is about as English as it gets.
"A mix of Victorian red bricks and pebble-dashed semis while all around you have rolling pastures and the beautiful chalk hills of the North Downs.
"I loved growing up there.
"You could make easy pocket money clearing stones for the local farmers, that was actually my first job.
"And you could play football until the cows came home – literally.
"At my first football club, Boulthurst Athletic, we shared our home pitch with the local cows.
"It's part of why I love our country.
"Not just the beauty – or the football – also the sort of quiet, uncomplaining resilience.
"The togetherness of the countryside. That is the best of British.
"And, to be honest – it is just as well.
"Because you need it.
"I mean – anyone who thinks that hardship in Britain is found only in our cities, anyone who thinks there's no struggle outside of our cities, yes even here in the South East, let me tell you – they know nothing of the countryside."
READ NOW: Former Defra Secretary Michael Gove says he will step down as MP at next General Election
