Summary

  • What do the people of Norwich think about the upcoming election?

  • BBC TV and radio programmes are coming live from the city

  • Social care, health and education - and Brexit - are among the issues voters are talking about

  • Norwich South has been held by Labour's Clive Lewis since 2015

  • Conservative Chloe Smith has held Norwich North since winning the 2009 by-election

  • Coverage on Friday 22 November 2019

  1. Good evening - and there's more coverage on the BBC laterpublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Our live website page on the BBC's general election day in Norwich is ending.

    There will more more coverage on the BBC1 News at Six and afterwards on Look East, and again on the BBC1 News at Ten followed by the BBC Look East news at 22:30.

  2. 'Why are staffing levels in hospitals so bad?'published at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    BBC Look East health correspondent Nikki Fox answers questions asked by the voting public ahead of the general election.

    Subjects include dentists, care home fees, GP appointments and NHS staffing. Got a question to ask?

    The BBC wants to hear from you as part of Your Questions Answered.

    If you have a question you can get in touch by emailing yourquestions@bbc.co.uk or using the hashtag #BBCyourquestions on social media.

    Media caption,

    Your Questions Answered: 'Why are staffing levels in hospitals so bad?'

  3. Drugs and stabbings a fear for one Norwich mumpublished at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Sharon Parker, another of the mums at Mile Cross Primary School, Norwich, told Look East's Kim Riley: "I think there's too much drugs going on with the young children and stabbings and stuff... since they took the PCSOs (police community support officers) off the streets, and I think there need to be more."

    Sharon Parker
  4. 'I'm picking the lesser of two evils'published at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Charlene Hyka, one of the mums at Mile Cross Primary School in Norwich, admits she doesn't have much faith in politicians.

    "I see it as when I go and pick who I vote for, I'm just picking the lesser of two evils, but I feel I need to have my vote still, " she told BBC Look East chief reporter Kim Riley.

    You can see Kim's full report on Look East on BBC1 at 18:30.

    Charlene Hyka
  5. Norwich, the birthplace of the postcodepublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Norwich has played something of a pioneering role in the field of communications.

    In 1878, the first long-distance telephone call in the country was made, between London and Norwich.

    And in 1959, Norwich became the birthplace of the modern postcode. There's even a blue plaque to mark the event.

    Blue plaque
  6. 'People in the city like to talk about politics'published at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Norwich North is one of the places where the forthcoming election could be won or lost. It's a marginal with only 507 votes between Conservative and Labour.

    Away from the national stories, here are some of the issues the people of Norwich are talking about.

    Media caption,

    Election battleground: Norwich

    A full list of candidates standing in Norwich North can be foundhere, externaland a full list of candidates standing in Norwich South here, external.

  7. Discover Norwich's two quite different constituenciespublished at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    We've mentioned already that Norwich is made up of two very different constituencies, and tonight BBC Look East will be taking a closer look at them.

    The news programme at 18:30 will follow a day's worth of BBC broadcasts from the city as part of the General Election 2019: Focus on Norwich.

    Stewart White will be at The Forum, in the Norwich South constituency, while Susie Fowler-Watt will be at Highball Climbing Centre, near the city's airport, in Norwich North.

    Stewart White and Susie Fowler-Watt
  8. 'You have to fight your own cause'published at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Student Gabbie Hill visited the BBC Newsbeat campervan to tell how she struggled with depression in her teens and in her second year at the University of East Anglia.

    "I knew there were services I needed to access, but it was quite a challenge - you have to fight your own cause to be seen and to be taken seriously," she said.

    Gabbie Hill

    Asked if it was an important issue for her as a voter, she replied: "Massively important - we can only work on promises but they need to start being fulfilled.

    "There is massive distrust in these services; we need to know where to find them and then, once you gain the courage to access them, the services are there for you."

    Gabbie said that after 12 months on a waiting list, she was now doing well with the help of a therapist and mentor.

    You can hear more from the Newsbeat team on BBC Radio 1 at 17:45.

  9. The street seen on screenpublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Recognise this street?

    Elm Hill, NorwichImage source, Getty Images

    It's Elm Hill, surely one of Norwich's most photographed thoroughfares. If it's familiar, you may have seen it on numerous films and TV shows, including the 2007 movie Stardust, and it will shortly be seen in the Netflix film Jingle Jangle, starring Forest Whitaker.

    The street has more Tudor buildings than the whole of London, fact fans.

  10. BBC Newsbeat's election camper van hits Norwichpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    BBC Newsbeat's election camper van parked up outside Norwich Research Park, external to discover more about the political climate in the city and across Norfolk.

    Steffan Powell, external's been chatting to Katie, 21, who up-cycles denim jackets; University of East Anglia student Gabbie Hill and David Parfrey, the boss of the research park, about election issues that matter to them.

    They've been talking about mental health.

    Meanwhile, Christian Hewgill, external's been out and about discovering what it's like to find work in the county.

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  11. Don't mention Alan Partridgepublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Speaking to BBC News Channel's Martine Croxall, BBC East political correspondent Andrew Sinclair said Norwich has changed "considerably" since he moved to the city in 1995.

    "Norwich has become far more dynamic and probably younger as well," he said.

    "It certainly doesn't like the Alan Partridge image, which we used to have, of being out of touch.

    "Norwich very much wants to punch its weight."

    Martine Croxall and Andrew Sinclair
  12. 'I struggle every morning'published at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Earlier, we told you how Pippa Travis-Williams's son Henry took his own life at the age of 21 after he was wrongly discharged by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)

    She spoke to BBC Breakfast about how his death could have been prevented.

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    You can read more about his story here.

  13. A city of storiespublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    In 2012, Norwich became Unesco's first City of Literature in England.

    Norwich attracts writers, from Christian mystic Julian of Norwich, the first woman to write and publish a book in the English language, to students from across the world drawn to the prestigious creative writing department at the University of East Anglia.

    Shelves of booksImage source, Getty

    One of its first graduates was novelist Ian McEwan, who said "literature has deep roots in the beautiful city of Norwich".

  14. The student vote in Norwichpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Jennifer Meierhans
    BBC News Online

    Norwich is home to more than 30,000 students at places like City College Norwich, Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) and the University of East Anglia (UEA), which are all in the Norwich South constituency.

    The 12 December election date means many students will be back at their family homes for Christmas.

    But they will still have the option to use the postal vote in their university constituency, or go to the polling station local to their home address.

    Students sitting on a wallImage source, Getty Images

    Voting multiple times is a criminal offence. But students can choose where they think their vote would be most influential.

    More than half of students are ready to vote tactically in the general election, with Brexit the key factor, according to research.

  15. 'Why does election coverage focus on party leaders?'published at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Andrew Sinclair hosting a debate on Facebook live

    Kevin from Bury St Edmunds asked BBC East political correspondent Andrew Sinclair, external why the media focuses on party leaders when the electorate can only vote for a local candidate.

    Andrew replied that it made sense from a regional and national perspective, but added: "You're dead right.

    "You are voting for somebody to represent your constituency and that's why candidates have the time during an election campaign to knock on your door and ask for your vote.

    "That's why hustings are held so you can go along and listen to them because it's very possible that you will hear a candidate and say 'Actually I don't support the party, but I like what this man or woman stands for'."

    "Your vote will determine who will be the next prime minister, but you are also voting on someone to fight for the issues that really matter for your constituency."

  16. 'Help! I hate my MP!'published at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    "What should I do if I want to vote for a party but I really hate my local MP?"

    That was the question from Craig Gladwin to BBC East political correspondent Andrew Sinclair on Facebook Live, external.

    Andrew SinclairImage source, Facebook

    Andrew's answer? "The bottom line, is at the moment, no-one is an MP, everyone is a candidate, and yes, you may hear about marginal and very safe seats but at the end of the day, everything is up in the air.

    "You vote for who you want to vote for, and if you feel very strongly that you don't like the person who was the last MP, vote for someone else.

    "If you feel you are in a very safe seat and there is very little chance of dislodging the MP that has previously held the seat, you can go on the internet and look for various tactical voting websites."

  17. Andrew Sinclair is live on Facebookpublished at 13:03 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    The BBC East political correspondent is answering your questions live about the general election.

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  18. 'Austerity is taking its toll'published at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    An increasing number of people are living in poverty in Norfolk, according to the county's Citizen Advice, external.

    Chief executive Jon Cheyette, talking on BBC Newsroom Live from Norwich, said the number of people the service sees has gone up by 14% from last year.

    He said "austerity is taking its toll".

    Jon Cheyette

    "People are struggling to make difficult decisions on a day-to-day basis - do they put food on the table or do they put money in the electricity meter?" he said.

    "More and more people are coming to us for Foodbank vouchers, for fuel vouchers, to help them heat their homes and put food on the table.

    "The county is beautiful, but it belies the truth that there are an increasing number of people living in poverty."

  19. Facebook Live conversation starting soon..published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    BBC East's political correspondent Andrew Sinclair will be hosting a Facebook Live general election debate from 13:00.

    You can join in when it begins.

    We will provide a direct link when it goes live, but you will be able to find it on the BBC News: East of England page, external on the social media giant's website:

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  20. If you're just joining us...published at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    The BBC is focusing on Norwich today, ahead of the general election in less than three weeks' time.

    BBC Breakfast has been broadcasting live from the Forum, and Adrian Chiles is currently bringing his Chiles on Friday show on BBC 5 Live from Cafe Marzano at the venue.

    We've been speaking to people in and around the city to find out the issues concerning them and what they want from politicians.

    If you have a question you can get in touch by emailing yourquestions@bbc.co.uk or using the hashtag #BBCyourquestions on social media.

    Cathedral of St John the BaptistImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist. Norwich