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Labour Party Leader Sir Keir visits Wakefield Cathedral

First published on: 1st April 2022

The Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer has paid a visit to Wakefield Cathedral.

Sir Keir visited the cathedral today in the run up to Easter, interested to find out more about the plans for the forthcoming weeks and see how the cathedral was doing as the nation continues to recover from the impacts of the pandemic over the last two years.

The Dean of Wakefield, The Very Revd Simon Cowling, (pictured) accompanied Sir Keir on his tour around the building alongside Denise Jeffries, Leader of Wakefield Council and Louise Davies, Director of Christians on the Left.

Speaking after the visit, Dean Simon said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Sir Keir Starmer to Wakefield today and show him around Wakefield’s wonderful cathedral.

“At Wakefield Cathedral we offer a warm welcome to everyone who come through its doors, and it was very good to welcome Sir Keir today and to speak with him about the significant role that the cathedral has to play at the heart our great city. It was also good to hear more about Sir Keir’s current projects, and about the challenges Covid has presented in the first two years of his leadership.

“Our conversation around this final subject was a timely reminder that, no matter our status in society or our position within an organisation, the last two years have presented great challenges for everyone.

“During the season of Lent we are encouraged to reflect on what is important in our lives. Today is a reminder that, although being able to shake someone’s hand, tour the cathedral and pose for a photo seem like simple activities, they are activities we should never take for granted.”

During Sir Keir’s visit, he also spoke with artists from Artworks SY, a non-for-profit creative arts organisation supporting adults with learning disabilities through creative workshops and placements.

It was the final day of the Artworks SY art exhibition and workshop taking place inside the cathedral. Kayleigh Cruickshank and Liz Carrington from Artworks SY said “We were honoured when we heard Sir Keir Starmer wanted to see our exhibition. He engaged all our artists in discussion around their work and took great interest in their individual creative process.

“They were all so happy Keir enjoyed visiting their exhibition and appreciated their hard work and we look forward to inviting him to our new gallery space next year, to see what amazing work our artists have created.”

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