Terry Jermy on family tragedy that spurred Norfolk MP bid

But for MP hopeful Terry Jermy, it was a family tragedy that sparked his determination to become an MP.

The wake-up call came after the death of his father, who fell ill after being unable to get a GP appointment.

The Labour candidate for South West Norfolk, who has been a Thetford councillor since he was 22, says this experience spurred him to want to fight for change on a national level with the NHS being his number one priority.

Terry Jermy with his dad, Terry, on the night he was sworn in as Thetford town mayor in 2016 (Image: Terry Jermy)

FAMILY HEARTBREAK 

The 38-year-old said: "My dad was poorly and struggled to get a GP appointment which meant he then ended up getting pneumonia. 

"He was then admitted to hospital where he contracted Covid and was put into an induced coma for two months.

"During this time I saw first-hand the challenges people face. It was a wake-up call, highlighting the difficulty getting GP appointments, the quality of care in hospitals and the chronic problems with short staffing.

"He was only 65. As a family, we now have to live with thinking, if only he had got a GP appointment, would he have got so ill?

"It was during this time I realised there was only so much I could do as a councillor."

The riverside in Thetford (Image: Newsquest)

LOCAL ROOTS

Mr Jermy has a deep connection to his home town of Thetford, a place his family have lived in for generations, and he has been campaigning for his local community since he was just 16.

He has gone on to become leader of the Labour group at Breckland council and is a senior member of Norfolk County Council.

And he believes this strong local connection could make the difference this year against his Tory opponent Liz Truss.

Former prime minister Liz Truss (Image: Newsquest)

"I've had long-term Conservative supporters, who have never voted for me locally saying they support me. It's a real turning point.

"I think it gives you an indication of the mess the Tories have made, haemorrhaging voters in a place like South West Norfolk, a Tory stronghold.

"We haven't had an MP for 14 years in my view. People need support and reassurance. If you vote for me, I will have a permanent presence in the constituency where people can pop in and I will see you. I think that's really important."

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Other key issues Mr Jermy has been campaigning for include supporting small businesses and fighting to boost the economic prospects of SWN - an area where wages are lower than the national average. 

And he believes improving connectivity is vital to achieve this.

"It doesn't matter if it's buses, trains or broadband, we need to support people to access jobs in this rural part of Norfolk."

Terry Jermy outside the Charles Burrell Centre, a community enterprise that he helped set up at his former school which has become a successful business hub and community centre (Image: Owen Sennitt)

PUSHING FOR CHANGE

As chairman of the Charles Burrell Centre in Thetford, a successful community enterprise he helped set up in 2013, he also says he understands the challenges faced by families affected by the cost of living crisis. Its food bank now has more than 1000 members.

His father's experience of receiving disability benefits has also informed his view that welfare reform is needed, he says.

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"If I am successful, I will absolutely be an advocate for welfare reform and improving the respect and dignity in this process, which is very lacking.

"Poverty is all around us, a third of all children in this constituency live in poverty, that is outrageous in 2024."

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Terry Jermy is standing to become the next MP for South West Norfolk (Image: Owen Sennitt)

MISSING RIVAL

Speaking about his rival - the former PM Liz Truss - Mr Jermy believes her notable absence this election campaign suggests there is little love for her in the Conservative Party.

"I think the national party do not want to be reminded of her history. In 2019, she was barely here and was travelling across the country to support other Tory candidates, building up friends to prepare for her election campaign.

"This year she has not been anyway - I don't think she is regarded as a campaign asset.

"I'm also surprised by her campaign slogan - 'working for you' - that is a key criticism of her.

"She is one of the most experienced candidates so why not run on that? Perhaps she didn't want to draw attention to the fact she is the country's shortest-serving prime minister."