An election candidate whose CV includes stints working at the UN and for Barack Obama's  White House campaign is standing to become MP for Great Yarmouth.

Fionna Tod, who also worked for the World Health Organization, is running as the Liberal Democrat's representative.

She admits the Yarmouth contest is likely to be a "two-horse race" between Labour and the Tories, although Reform is quickly rising in the polls.

She believes the main two parties are failing voters.

Barack Obama during a visit to Downing Street, London, earlier this yearBarack Obama during a visit to Downing Street, London, earlier this year (Image: PA)

"A politics based on values is sorely missing currently. Both parties fail to show vision or be inspiring - this was key to the success of Barack Obama's campaigns."

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As well as working for the former president, Ms Todd, who lives in Cambridge, has also worked in parliament for the Liberal Democrats as a researcher and advisor on foreign affairs and is currently a non-executive director of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust - a group campaigning for electoral and democratic reform.

"My experience means I would be able to get going from day one. The people of Great Yarmouth deserve an MP that will put them first and stand up for the community -  that is what I would do if elected," she added.

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A bird's eye view of Great Yarmouth from the Nelson monumentA bird's eye view of Great Yarmouth from the Nelson monument (Image: Newsquest)

Improving NHS services and stopping sewage flowing into our beaches and rivers are some of the key issues Ms Todd has been discussing with people on the doorstep.

"The situation with our waterways is abysmal and we need to have a tougher stance on water companies," said Ms Todd.

This General Election is the second time Ms Todd has tried to become a Norfolk MP after a failed attempt in 2017 running against George Freeman in Mid Norfolk.

This year, she is up against Keir Cozens of the Labour Party, James Clark for the Conservatives, Rupert Lowe for Reform, Trevor Rawson for the Green Party, Claire Roullier and Paul Brown as Independents and Catherine Blaiklock for the English Democrats.