Former Clive Lewis staffer endorses Jamie Osborn in Norwich

Rachel Everett, who worked as a casework manager in Clive Lewis' office for five years, has offered her support to Green candidate Jamie Osborn. 

Mr Lewis, who has held the Norwich South seat for the Labour Party since 2015, is bidding for re-election next month against six other candidates. 

His former employee, Ms Everett, was also a member of the Labour Party on Norwich City Council before resigning alongside three colleagues at a dramatic meeting in November, costing the group its overall majority on the council. 

They all continued to represent their wards as Independents, but Ms Everett stepped down at the local elections last month while Ian Stutely, another former Labour councillor, lost his seat. 

The group of rebels continue to be engaged in a fiery dispute with the Labour Party after it accused Mr Stutely of "unacceptable personal behaviour" in a leaflet distributed the day before the election. 

Former Labour member Rachel Everett (Image: Jamie Osborn)

GREEN ENDORSEMENT

Ms Everett worked as an admin and casework manager for the office of Clive Lewis between March 2018 and May 2023. 

However, she has endorsed Norwich South Green candidate Jamie Osborn and is featured in his campaign material. 

Her statement reads: "There are few parliamentary candidates with the integrity that Jamie possesses.

"Jamie is passionate about improving the community for the residents and he interacts with them all year round, regardless of whether there is an election coming up.

"Jamie would be a committed and trustworthy MP and I would urge you to vote for him."

Mr Osborn sits on Norwich City Council and has been targeted in Mr Lewis' own campaign material - which encourages people not to "waste their vote" on the Greens. 

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TOWN CLOSE CLIQUE

Four city councillors -  including Rachel Everett - announced their resignation from the Labour Party at a dramatic meeting last autumn, costing the party its overall majority on the council.

This followed the deselection of Ian Stutely, who was the councillor for Town Close ward, which stopped him from standing for the Labour Party at the local elections. 

Members of the 'Town Close Clique' - Emma Corlett and Ian Stutely (back row) with Karen Davis and Cate Oliver (front) (Image: Town Close Facebook)

The rebel group was dubbed the Town Close Clique - due to many of them representing the area - and all four continued to sit on the council as Independent members. 

However, the row re-ignited ahead of the local elections last month after flyers were distributed in the ward claiming that Mr Stutely was disqualified from standing for the Labour Party because of his behaviour towards other members. 

He was accused of "unacceptable personal behaviour" towards others in the party and the extraordinary letter resulted in calls to the police amid concerns about a breach of data protection rules.

The Independent group on the council said it considered the letter to be "defamatory" and urged others to report it to the electoral commission. 

The Norwich City Council election saw Labour win back two of the seats they lost in the autumn, enjoying a victory over the Town Close Clique. 

Chris Smith was declared the winner over Ian Stutely and Carli Harper was elected in Ms Everett's Lakenham seat. 

Labour emerged from the election with 19 seats - one short of the 20 required for an overall majority on the council.