On Tuesday 27 July, these include Great Witchingham: 9.30–10.15 am at the Queen of Hearts, Fakenham Road, Lenwade, and Wood Dalling: 12–12.45 pm at the Village Hall, Prospect Lane.

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These will be held in Aylsham Town Hall, Market Place, Aylsham, from 10 am – 12 noon on the following Fridays in 2020: 13 March, 15 May, 10 July, 30 October and 18 December.

For further details, contact Kate Rushton, Constituency Assistant on 01603 865763.

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Mr Mayhew won the seat with an increased majority of more than 21,800 over nearest challenger, Labour’s Jess Barnard.

He replaces veteran MP Keith Simpson, who stepped down at the election having held Broadland since the constituency was created in 2010.

Broadland 2019 results

1. Jerome Mayhew (Conservative) – 33,934 votes (59.6%)
2. Jess Barnard (Labour) – 12,073 (21.2%)
3. Ben Goodwin (Liberal Democrat) – 9,195 (16.1%)
4. Andrew Boswell (Green) – 1,412 (2.5%)
5. Simon Rous (Universal Good Party) – 363 (0.6%)

Turnout: 72.9%

See our earlier stories:

• Five parties to contest Broadland seat
• Entrepreneur quits outdoor business to stand for Broadland seat
• Liberal Democrat candidate calls for radical action on climate change
• Youth worker and county councillor selected as Labour candidate

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Mr Mayhew (pictured) said he has now campaigned in every corner of the Broadland district, saying that, while people want to hear plans for investment in the National Health Service, schools and the police, Brexit remains by far the biggest issue on the doorstep.

“Right across Broadland eight out of ten conversations start with Brexit,” he commented.

Mr Mayhew said he had got increasingly frustrated by Parliament’s inability to deliver on the result of the 2016 EU referendum.

“I felt I had to get involved to do my bit to sort this out,” he said. “We need to stop re-fighting the referendum battle, deliver on the referendum instruction and then work to bring our country back together.”

The Conservative candidate added: “I back personal aspiration and equality of opportunity for all. The free-market economy has lifted more people out of poverty than any system in human history.

“By supporting the economy we can direct its strength to tackle climate change and afford the continual investment in our public services that we all want and need.

“With government borrowing now finally back under control I back the Conservative plans for increased investment in the NHS, our schools and the police.”

See our earlier story:

• Five parties to contest Broadland seat

The post Entrepreneur quits outdoor business to stand for Broadland seat appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

The prospective parliamentary candidates are:

• Jess Barnard (Labour)
• Andrew Boswell (Green)
• Ben Goodwin (Liberal Democrat)
• Jerome Mayhew (Conservative)
• Simon Rous (Universal Good Party)

Mr Goodwin and Mr Rous are the only two of five Broadland candidates living in the constituency.

Ms Barnard is a Norfolk youth worker and county councillor councillor for the Nelson ward in Norwich.

Mr Boswell is an environmental consultant specialising in climate science, policy and law.

Mr Goodwin is a former RAF Tornado pilot and wing commander.

Mr Mayhew, a former barrister, is managing director of the Go Ape outdoor activity chain. He lives in Suffolk.

Mr Rous is the founder and first candidate of a new political party.

The Broadland seat is being vacated by the departing Conservative, Keith Simpson, who has been an MP for 22 years and held Broadland since the constituency was created in 2010.

Mr Simpson had a 15,816 majority at the last general election in 2017, in which the Conservatives received 57.9% of the votes, followed by Labour (29.6%), Liberal Democrats (7.9%), UKIP (2.8%) and Greens (1.7%). The turnout was 72.4%.

Earlier, Conservative election candidate Nick Conrad stepped down just 24 hours after being selected over “ill-judged comments” he made on the radio about a rape case.

The former BBC Radio Norfolk breakfast show presenter had been chosen as the party’s candidate for the Broadland seat. He was criticised for saying in 2014 that women should “keep their knickers on” during an on-air discussion about rape.

Meanwhile, the Brexit Party candidate was withdrawn before the deadline following a decision not to contest any seats held by the Conservatives.

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Mr Goodwin said if the Liberal Democrats were elected to government they would ensure the UK generates at least 80% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and create regular climate assemblies to ensure the public is involved in policy consultation.

“Our planet sits on a knife edge,” he said during the debate. “There is no excuse for blind ideology and ignorance of the overwhelming evidence, or for plans that don’t attack the problem. The climate crisis is the most serious threat to human life, prosperity and peace we have ever known.”

Mr Goodwin was speaking to a packed audience at the Parish Church of St Laurence in Brundall. The Climate Crisis Question Time debate was organised by Extinction Rebellion Mid-Yare and featured opening statements from the panel followed by two hours of audience questions.

Also in attendance were parliamentary candidates Jess Barnard (Labour) and Andrew Boswell (Green). The Conservative Party did not send a representative to the debate.

Mr Goodwin served 17 years in the Royal Air Force as a Tornado pilot and senior officer. During the latter part of his career, he worked in the Ministry of Defence and at NATO in Brussels.

Mr Goodwin said the Liberal Democrats had a strong chance of winning the Broadland seat and offered an alternative to “years of inaction” under the Conservatives, whose councillors this month blocked a district council motion to declare a climate emergency.

“It is possible to elect a new government, people who think differently on this. We exist,” he said.

If elected to government, the Liberal Democrats said they will ensure the UK achieves net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, with three quarters of that goal achieved in the next decade.

The party has committed to invest £100 billion over five years into combating climate change and protecting the environment, and an additional £15 billion making every building in the country greener.

Also addressing the meeting, Ms Barnard said: “I am ready to tackle the biggest issues of our generation and I pledge to stand up for the people of Broadland.

“I will champion Labour’s Green New Deal and I will lobby for more resources to build sustainable social housing.

“In the intervening time, I will fight for private renters’ security and an end to unfair evictions.

“Labour’s commitment to restoring legal aid will enable families in need of legal support to access justice.

“I want to do everything possible to ensure that current and future generations live in a fair and just society.”

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If elected, she has pledged to use her experience from working in Norfolk’s schools, the community and public services to represent Broadland in Parliament.

A senior youth worker at a Norfolk-based youth charity, Ms Barnard is the county councillor for the Nelson ward in Norwich and a member of the county councils’ communities committee.

As a long-term environmental campaigner, she has been championing Labour’s commitment to tackle climate change and has called for national investment in local areas.

Labour’s Green New Deal aims to ensure that building affordable eco-housing will go hand in hand with investment in our public services.

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