Will Great Yarmouth's blue collar wall turn red at election?

But predictions suggest this will crumble at the forthcoming General Election leaving Great Yarmouth's parliamentary hopefuls having it all to play for.

Since 2010, the constituency, which includes Yarmouth, Gorleston and the surrounding villages like Caister-on-Sea has been part of the Tory blue-collar wall - one of several traditionally working-class Labour strongholds that switched allegiance.

It would seem Keir Starmer (L) and Rishi Sunak (R) need to do more to convince voters in Great Yarmouth (Image: PA)

However, at the forthcoming General Election, polls suggest the Conservative vote is likely to collapse, with people in the constituency expected to turn back to red.

A recent poll by Survation MRP expects Labour's candidate Keir Couzens to win with a 40pc share of the vote.

More surprisingly, Reform UK's Rupert Lowe - the fringe party led by Nigel Farage that is making immigration a key issue this year - is expected to narrowly beat the Conservative candidate,  James Clark.

Labour candidate Keir Cozens (L) is predicted to win the seat, while it is thought it will be a tight contest between Conservative candidate James Clark (Centre) and Reform UK's Rupert Lowe (R) (Image: Keir Cozens/Harry Clark/Reform UK)

Speaking with people outside the bustling market and along the Golden Mile, there was not strong support for any party, with many people voicing their frustrations at the current state of politics.

Former mariner Graham Cardwell, 71, and friend Richard Barnes, a 39-year-old veteran, outside the Market Tavern in Great Yarmouth (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Former mariner Graham Cardwell, 71, and ex-army friend Richard Barnes, 39, both feel politicians should be more honest.

"There should be an abstain option on the ballot, perhaps politicians would realise then just how disgusted the public are with them," said Mr Cardwell.

While Mr Barnes, who says he has not voted in years, said: "There is too much lying and cheating in politics.

"What are they going to promise this time that is different and will they stick with it?

"They are more interested in themselves than the people."

Former mariner Graham Cardwell, 71, and friend Richard Barnes, a 39-year-old veteran, outside the Market Tavern in Great Yarmouth (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Dozens of people were reluctant to divulge their views but were keen to state they felt disillusioned and unlikely to vote this year.

Others are considering changing their loyalty.

Colin Shimmon, 72, used to vote Tory but thinks he will change to Labour this year.

"The Conservatives seem more interested in battling to become leader than working for the country. 

"Hospital waiting lists and immigration is too high - they have had many years in power and have not done enough."

Paul Woolner, a street magician, feels that Labour and the Conservatives have become too similar (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Paul Woolner, a street magician, thinks he will choose the Liberal Democrats.

"When I was younger you knew where you stood. Labour was for the working man while the Conservatives looked after the well-off. But it is hard to distinguish between the two. Their policies have become one and the same."

Julie Fisker, 81, worries about young families struggling to cope due to the cost of living crisis (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Julie Fisken, 81, a staunch socialist, feels many people have been forgotten about by the Tories.

"I feel like we have lost the plot. I don't know how young families are coping. People are really struggling. You can't find a dentist and I am worried about the privatisation of the NHS.

"But I am not sure about the leadership of the Labour Party at the moment, the direction doesn't seem right, particularly the response to the Gaza conflict.

"I've become more green - I feel like they are more forward-thinking."

Matt Kozuch, 40, is voting Green this year (Image: Owen Sennitt)

While immigration has become a hot topic, Matt Kozuch, 40 thinks it is being used to divide towns like Great Yarmouth.

"I always used to be Labour under Corbyn but this year I am voting Green. The Tories have never been good for this town and immigration is being used as a tool to divide people."  

Jim MacPhee, a street trader, hopes the new MP will be more present in the town (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Jim MacPhee, a street trader, hopes the new MP will be more present than Brandon Lewis, who has stood down as an MP.

"I've never seen his face around here. it would be nice to see an MP who walks about and works for the people."

The candidates for Great Yarmouth announced so far are Keir Cozens for Labour, James Clark for the Conservatives, Trevor Rawson for the Green Party, Rupert Lowe for Reform UK and Catherine Blaiklock for the English Democrats. 

Friends Kimberly Borrett and Claire Walsh want to see improvements to public transport and other services from the next government (Image: Owen Sennitt)