A former Tory big gun has been on the campaign trail in South West Norfolk.
Dominic Grieve, former Conservative minister and Attorney General, joined independent James Bagge aka the ‘Turnip Taliban’ on his campaign to defeat former Prime Minister Liz Truss.
According to a recent poll by Survation Ms Truss is among a number of Tories facing possible defeat in the upcoming general election on July 4.
Mr Bagge’s supporters claim she is battling for her political life against the former conservative member and now independent, in what they say could be one of the biggest election upsets in modern history.
Yesterday (Wednesday) Mr Grieve, who quit the Tory party in 2019 to become an independent, joined Mr Bagge on the campaign trail where they met over 200 voters.
Mr Bagge has recently secured a string of high-profile public endorsements from centrist Tory grandees other than Mr Grieve including Rory Stuart, David Gauke, as well as by Martin Bell.
Mr Grieve said: "Mr Bagge’s victory in South West Norfolk could be the beginning of a tide turning against populism and mediocrity in our politics. It shows that voters refuse to be fed snake oil by the likes of Liz Truss and Reform, and they want a sensible, compassionate, centre-ground politics that focuses on getting things done.”
He also said: “Talking to people here, it’s clear that Liz Truss’ time is up, and that James Bagge is on the verge of unleashing a political earthquake. People have been telling me they have voted Conservative their entire lives, but won’t vote for Liz Truss, will never vote Labour, and do not want to use their vote as a protest. They know that James Bagge will represent them, and will not have to bow down and tow the party line”:
Mr Bagge, known to the media as the ‘Turnip Taliban’ was a senior local Tory who very publicly quit the party in protest against Liz Truss' selection stating his decision was because she “didn’t care about the constituency”. For that, he was labelled the ‘Turnip Taliban’ as he comes from an established local farming family.
Mr Bagge said: “I’m standing because local people deserve an MP who will put West Norfolk before Westminster politics. Liz Truss is more interested in crawling after Trump and his extremist cabal than she is in solving local problems.”
He claimed: “This is also a campaign to restore accountability to our politics. Politicians must be held to account for their failures and must be accountable to their voters. Liz Truss has failed the country and failed the constituency. We cannot reward her for failure”
Tracy Peterson, a recently retired health worker, who has always voted Conservative, is backing Mr Bagge. She said: 'We were on our knees, we never had a day off. They clapped for us and at night, they partied. I'll never forgive them for that. As for Liz Truss, we never see her.”
Local voter, Julian Howland, said “'I'm like my dad, a Labour man. But this time I'm voting for the man, not the party and James Bagge is my kind of man. I love this County and I know James cares as passionately as I do. His idea on the joined-up thinking with local health and education authorities is such a simple idea. Such a good idea.”
Nine candidates are standing in South West Norfolk they are Terry Jermy (Labour), Pallavi Devulapalli (Green Party), Earl Elvis Of Outwell (Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Josie Ratcliffe (Liberal Democrat), Liz Truss (Conservative), James Bagge (Independant), Lorraine Douglas (Communist), Gary Conway (Heritage) and Tobias McKenzie (Reform).
