Prime Minister Rishi Sunak paid a low-key visit to Gloucester Rugby's Kingsholm stadium this morning (March 14).

Accompanied by Gloucester MP Richard Graham, who is a big Gloucester Rugby fan, Mr Sunak met a number of players and was presented with a Gloucester Rugby shirt by club captain Lewis Ludlow.

The Prime Minister spent some time throwing a rugby ball around with some of the players, showing off something of a talent for the game. 

During his visit Mr Sunak answered questions posed by a posse of local and regional journalists, including Punchline-Gloucester.com editor Mark Owen.

Mr Owen asked Mr Sunak about the furlough scheme and where the idea came from, and also the impact from the Budget on local people and businesses. 

Mr Sunak said: "We've had a difficult few years, what with the pandemic and then also as we were recovering from that, the war in Ukraine and the impact on everyone's energy bills. But at the start of this year I believe we've turned a corner and the country's pointing in the right direction.

"You can see that with the economy. Inflation has come down from 11% to 4% and wages are rising ahead of prices. Mortgage rates and energy bills are starting to fall and because of that we have been able to start cutting taxes. That shows that our plan is working after a difficult few years. If we stick to the plan it means a brighter future for everyone here and across the country as well.

"Regarding furlough, it was really important to me to protect people's jobs. That's because I believe very much in the purpose and dignity that a job brings to you and your family as well as the obvious financial security, but also I believe in a country where hard work is rewarded. That's why I came up with furlough, not on my own, it was a big team effort of people who came up with the idea and how to implement it.

"Everyone thought it would not be possible in the matter of weeks that we had to put it up and running. I still get people coming up to me who thank me for it and the difference it made to their lives. Cutting national insurance and our long-term ambition to end the double taxation on work is also important to me."

Mr Owen also took the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for the £500 million Government funding for the A417 missing link and £30 million levelling up fund that is helping to regenerate Gloucester city centre.

Mr Sunak was also asked about the impact on local funeral directors in the wake of the Hull scandal. Has was also quizzed about GCHQ banning extremist talk and about the prospect of Conservative local councils being wiped out at the next election.

Mr Owen said afterwards: "It was an interesting time. We all had one question each on a local level. All in all a wide range of questions were covered. We had about 15 minutes with the Prime Minister as he was obviously doing a very quick tour around the county.

"It was a real privilege to meet the Prime Minister today. It's not every day you get an opportunity like this."

Today's visit was teed up nicely in Parliament yesterday by Mr Graham, who asked a question to the Prime Minister about funding for Premiership rugby clubs. Two top-flight clubs, Worcester Warriors and Wasps, have gone out of business in recent years.

 Mark Owen met up with Mr Graham afterwards and asked him about Mr Sunak's visit to Gloucester.