“I promise to work for you if I’m elected,” was the message that Liberal Democrat candidate Josie Ratcliffe wanted to give to voters.
The borough councillor, who has represented the East Downham Ward for the past five years, decided to run against former Prime Minister Liz Truss for the spot as South West Norfolk’s MP.
She joins another seven South West Norfolk candidates hoping to pip Liz Truss to the post, including Independent James Bagge, Labour’s Terry Jermy and Green’s Pallavi Devulapalli.
Other candidates include Lorraine Douglas of the Communist Party of Great Britain, the Heritage Party’s Gary Conway, Earl Elvis Of East Anglia from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, and Tobias McKenzie from Reform UK.
Ms Ratcliffe, who lives in Stow Bardolph, has been a member of the Lib Dems since 2010, and says that healthcare, climate and the cost of living crisis are some of her and the party’s priorities.
The former HGV lorry driver told the Lynn News that she understands residents’ concerns about healthcare and dentistry and that if these services were to be improved, it would relieve pressure from the constituency’s closest hospital, the crumbling Queen Elizabeth.
“The general election is a bit remote to people who are struggling with access to health services. Doctors and dentists, particularly in Norfolk,” she said.
“The cost of living as well is a big problem. So I can understand people are trying to get by in their daily lives.”
Ms Ratcliffe believes environmental issues require “urgent attention” at a local, national and international level.
She referred to the Liberal Democrat manifesto, which says the party wants to cut emissions and bills with an emergency Home Energy Upgrade programme.
This entails driving a solar rooftop revolution and investing in cleaner energy and transport.
She added: “It does need urgent attention, unfortunately, it has not had that attention. But we do have an opportunity to invest in clean technology.
“A big solar revolution, for example, will create jobs. It will create the growth that this country needs, but in good new jobs and also bringing down people's household bills.
“We could potentially have some of that work come to South West Norfolk. We do have an industry in Thetford in particular and some in Downham and Swaffham.”
Ms Ratcliffe said she believes Conservative voters are expected not to vote for Liz Truss this year and they need a “good range of candidates to choose from”.
“People we have spoken to are very disappointed in Liz Truss that she has put herself forward again. Of course, lots of people who previously voted Conservative are having to think what to do,” she said.
“It is a big change for someone to change how they have voted or which party they have voted for.”
It is Ms Ratcliffe’s second time running in a general election, having previously stood against Ms Truss in 2019.
She said that South West Norfolk is more in the public eye than it was five years ago.
“Liz Truss hadn't become Prime Minister, made a spectacular mess of the economy and had to resign very publicly. So now this constituency is much more on in the public eye than it was,” Ms Ratcliffe said.
“I have been a long-term member of the Liberal Democrats. I'm very proud of our manifesto and I do believe in it. It's designed to help local families, just ordinary people.
“I'm committed already to public duty through my membership of the council, I put myself forward for the election which is a public role, it is not for everyone. There can be some poor experiences as well.”
She explained that social care services would relieve stress from Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Ms Ratcliffe said: “Fixing the NHS is a big problem and that's a big challenge and that is linked to fixing social care as well.
“Obviously the hospitals are under massive pressure. We don't have a hospital in the South West Norfolk constituency at all, we do rely on the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Lynn, which of course has the unfortunate reputation of being the most propped hospital in the country.
“A lot of the pressure on hospitals is firstly because people can't access primary care in the community, doctors and dentists and other services, so they end up at A&E.
“Also, people who were in hospital and have been treated and are medically well, but can't go home where they'd obviously rather be because there isn't a social care safety net to look after them.
“We’ve got to fix this for people, a big investment in public health to keep people well or to be able to access care locally.”
Ms Ratcliffe also believes looking at food costs is important with rising prices during the cost of living crisis.
“We need to address the cost of living, particularly how it affects people’s household bills.
“We will look at food costs, invest in British farming so that we can have more homegrown food at good prices, help people’s fuel and food bills.”
Ms Ratcliffe spoke about Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey’s campaign and how he is open to “having some fun”.
“He's been carrying out the stunts, but each of the stunts has been linked to a policy area. Now our policies are getting talked about. But if you'd stood at a podium and read out a manifesto, we would get very little attention,” she said.
She added: “I promise to work for you if I am elected. I've already experienced in public service in the local authority, which is a very good sort of training ground for learning about the issues that impact people's lives.
“I will be joining an experienced and enthusiastic team of Liberal Democrat MPs in Westminster.”