North Norfolk candidates discuss election issues

Cromer is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in north Norfolk

Won by the Conservatives in 2019 but held by the Liberal Democrats for the previous 18 years, the parties are the two main challengers in the North Norfolk constituency in this summer's general election.

Duncan Baker took the seat at the last election after Norman Lamb stood down as an MP.

Mr Baker is defending a majority of more than 14,000 but the Liberal Democrats have been campaigning hard in the area, with leader Ed Davey recently visiting.

Labour, the Green Party and Reform UK also have candidates standing in the constituency.

• Watch - North Norfolk constituency debate

Along with coastal resorts like Cromer, Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea, the constituency includes the market town of North Walsham.

Health and social care are key issues in North Norfolk, which has an ageing population. Figures from the Office of National Statistics show it has the highest median age of any constituency – 54.9 years.

But coastal erosion, transport, rural facilities and the struggle by many to buy or rent a home are also on the agenda.

(The candidates' responses below are listed in alphabetical order by surname.)

Steffan Aquarone is a former leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Norfolk County Council

Steffan Aquarone is the Liberal Democrat county councillor for Melton Constable and said he had been involved in business for the last 25 years in a range of sectors, including technology and film.

He said the health service, including dentistry and mental health, was the "number one issue" raised with him in the constituency.

Mr Aquarone added that the hospital at Cromer was a "great facility full of brilliant people, but not enough people to operate it" and that the Liberal Democrats would increase NHS staff recruitment and retention.

He said sewage in rivers and seas caused him to "despair" and that his party wanted a stronger water regulator, with water companies made to invest more of their profits in improved infrastructure.

Conservative Duncan Baker won the vote in North Norfolk in 2019

Duncan Baker won the North Norfolk seat for the Conservatives after previously working as a director of family firm CT Baker Group (owners of the Bakers and Larners department store in Holt).

He said his "number one priority is to improve Cromer Hospital", which would help prevent people having to make journeys to Norwich.

"We can bring dementia services, maybe stroke care services, other geriatric services," he added.

Mr Baker said he backed the idea of a dentistry school at the University of East Anglia to help with recruitment of dentists to the area and, if re-elected, he wanted to make sure the area had more services like bank hubs.

Labour's Cathy Cordiner-Achenbach runs a social enterprise and is a borough councillor in Great Yarmouth

Cathy Cordiner-Achenbach, from Labour, has worked as a teacher locally but now runs a social enterprise in Great Yarmouth and is a borough councillor.

She said health and social care were important issues and that "fair pay" was needed "in order to improve recruitment and retention" in the NHS.

Ms Cordiner-Achenbach said Labour wanted to change the law so councils could apply for government funding to battle coastal erosion if it would have a negative effect on tourism.

With rural transport, she added that she wanted "a better bus network" with "vital bus routes maintained".

Liz Dixon, from the Green Party, said she had a long career as a graphic designer

The Green Party's Liz Dixon said she grew up in Norfolk and worked as a graphic designer in London, before returning to the county to live in Happisburgh, where coastal erosion is a serious problem.

She became involved in politics because she "got fed up of shouting at the radio" about issues she was concerned about.

Ms Dixon said "the amounts of sewage" going into the sea off North Norfolk was "awful" and that the Green Party wanted to renationalise all of the water companies.

She said everyone was affected by climate change and it was a problem "we have to mitigate as much as we can".

Jason Patchett, from Reform UK, is a mechanical engineer

Reform UK's Jason Patchett lives near Wroxham and said he had served in the Royal Navy before becoming a mechanical engineer, and had "a high level of management expertise".

He said coastal erosion, potholes and the closure of the Benjamin Court care home were key issues.

Mr Patchett said he was "committed in correcting these problems" that had occurred because of "poor management" by central government, which he accused of "neglecting" the area.

He said money could be found to address the issues by cutting spending on asylum seekers, adding that "we have to put our people first".

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