MP's future uncertain after losing local party backing

Richard Bacon is Norfolk's longest serving MP having been elected in 2001

A Conservative MP was facing an uncertain future after local party members indicated they did not want him to stand at the next election.

Some members felt that MP for South Norfolk, Richard Bacon, has not been "visible" enough, the BBC has been told.

Both the local party and Conservative party headquarters have declined to comment.

Mr Bacon, Norfolk's longest serving MP, was unavailable for comment.

It is not clear if he will fight the decision, which was made by a selection council of local members who met in Wymondham.

Party sources said he could ask for a vote of all local party members to decide whether he should stand again, or he could apply to fight another seat or just agree to stand down at the next election.

The 60-year-old was elected MP for South Norfolk in 2001 and has increased his majority at almost every election.

In the 2019 general election he polled 58% of the vote and had a majority of 21,275.

Some of Richard Bacon's constituents made a poster accusing him of going "missing" in 2021

He was widely respected by colleagues for his work on the public accounts committee which questions the way in which tax payers money is spent.

But back in his constituency there have been complaints from constituents he has not responded to emails or championed local causes, claims which he has always denied.

His supporters point out that in recent months he has led the campaign against the building of new electricity pylons in Norfolk and spoken out about the poor provision of NHS dentists in the county.

Party sources point out that the boundaries for South Norfolk were expected to change at the next election.

They said Friday’s selection council reflected the changes with party members from places like Wymondham, which are not in the current constituency and for whom Mr Bacon is not the MP, being allowed to vote, and members from Diss, which will not be in the new constituency, not being allowed to vote.

This, they say, may have counted against him.