Norfolk Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb backs Greens in Waveney

But the former North Norfolk MP is shirking party loyalty and supporting a candidate from another party to win in the county's newest constituency.

Sir Norman Lamb, a former minister, has endorsed Adrian Ramsay, co-leader of the Green Party, who is standing to become the first Waveney Valley MP on the Norfolk-Suffolk border.

Adrian Ramsay, co-leader of the Green Party, hopes to become MP for Waveney Valley (Image: Green Party)

This is despite the Liberal Democrats intending also to contest the seat, although a candidate is yet to be named.

Sir Norman said: "This election is an opportunity to elect a higher calibre of candidate compared to what we have endured from this current Conservative government. They have been dismal. 

"Tribal politics does not serve the country well - if you see capable people running for parliament from other parties, you should be willing to say so.

Norman Lamb, former North Norfolk Liberal Democrat MP, believes tribal politics is bad for the country (Image: Green Party)

"I've known Mr Ramsay for many years and we have discussed in depth how to be an effective MP, which I have learnt through 18 years of parliamentary experience.

"As an MP I worked hard to win people's trust. It is encouraging that Adrian wants to try and do the job in a similar way."

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North Norfolk, which includes the seaside town of Cromer, is expected to be a contest between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives (Image: Newsquest)

While Sir Norman is backing the Greens in Waveney Valley, he is sticking along party lines in his former constituency.

The former minister who served during the 2010 Lib Dem/Conservative coalition government is determined to get Steffan Aquarone, the Lib Dem candidate for North Norfolk, into parliament.

"To be totally clear, my main objective is to get Steff elected," he said.

"There are only two choices in North Norfolk - Lib Dems or Conservatives.

"Like Mr Ramsay, he is a very capable person and I feel strongly that both can make a positive contribution in parliament."

Steffan Aquarone is running against Conservative candidate Duncan Baker, who has held the seat since 2019.

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Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat candidate for North Norfolk (Image: Alex Broadway)

Cathy Cordiner-Achenbach is the Labour candidate while Elizabeth Anne-Dixon is standing for the Greens and Jason Malcolm Patchett for Reform UK.

NORFOLK'S FIRST CROSS-BORDER CONSTITUENCY

Waveney Valley is one of the more interesting constituencies this General Election, being the county's first cross-border constituency.

About 60pc of it is in Suffolk, including towns like Bungay, Halesworth and Eye but the largest proportion of its voting base can be found in the Norfolk town of Diss. 

With the new boundary drawn, there is no clear indication of which way people vote although it is thought it will be a two-way fight between the Greens and Conservatives.

An aerial view of Diss town centre - the largest town in the new Waveney Valley constituency (Image: Mike Page)

And the Greens fancy their chances, making it a key target seat. 

Mr Ramsay, a former Norwich Green Party councillor, said: "I'm pleased to have such a well-respected former MP backing me.

Adrian Ramsay, co-leader of the Green Party (Image: Green Party)

"People in East Anglia want change and our doorstep data in the Waveney Valley constituency very much shows that we are running pretty well neck and neck with the Conservatives, with Labour and the Lib Dems coming a distant third and fourth.

"All the polls suggest a Labour government with a huge majority after the next election. 

"We need to have a strong group in the House of Commons to ensure Sir Keir Starmer does not do a U-turn on any more Green commitments." 

Richard Rout has been selected for the Conservatives and Gurpeet Padda is the Labour candidate, while Scott Huggins is standing for Reform UK and Maya Severyn for the Social Democrat Party.