I’ve lived in Norwich since 2001 and been your MP for the last two years, so I know exactly what a special place this is.

Full statement

We’re a city that’s proud of standing out and doing things differently. While Norfolk is a sea of blue, we don’t have a single Tory councillor in Norwich. While the country voted to leave the EU, Norwich South voted 60:40 to remain. But above all, we’re a live-and-let-live city that’s united by our sense of fairness and which truly values all of our public services - from our NHS through our fantastic local Police and Fire Service to the many hundreds of wonderful staff who care for our city’s older people.

As your MP I’ve taken action for Norwich on all of these issues and many more. I’ve opposed this government’s ruinous, self serving and ideological cuts to our local health service and social care system. I’ve stood up for our city’s parents and pupils as Tory school funding plans hit our schools far harder than anywhere else in East Anglia. Theresa May’s obsession with Brexit at all costs will hit Norwich hard, so I took a principled stand for our city against it in Parliament which meant I had to resign from my role as Shadow Secretary for Business.

And because I know that so many in our city are working hard and still struggling to make ends meet, I am donating almost all of my MP’s 10% payrise to local charities.

But unless you support me and Labour at the General Election, we could easily end up with a Tory MP who won’t stand up for our city against national government and whose doesn’t share the values of the vast majority of people in this city. Opinion polling of Norwich South done a couple of months ago showed that the Tories are only 8% behind Labour - with other parties already out of the race and unable to keep the Tories out. Only a vote for me and Labour can keep the Tories out in Norwich South.

Please support me at the General Election on June 8th so I can do even more to stand up for Norwich.