Thetford councillor Terry Jermy hits campaign target to take on Liz Truss for South West Norfolk seat

A Thetford town councillor has thanked supporters after they donating more than £5,000 to his campaign to take on a former Prime Minister for her seat at the next election.

Terry Jermy, who is also a Breckland and Norfolk county councillor, is Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the South West Norfolk seat, which Liz Truss currently has.

Not only is he against the country’s shortest serving Prime Minister, but also rebel Tory James Bagge who has entered the election race for the seat, that includes Thetford, as an Independent.

Mr Jermy’s target was hit at the weekend, which he believes was thanks in part to the national publicity about the release of Ms Truss’s new book, Ten Years To Save The West.

He said: “Elections are expensive, and we do not have the financial resources that the Truss team will inevitably throw at the campaign in a bid to cling on to her seat.

“I am delighted our crowdfunding campaign has been so successful. We noticed a sudden surge in support when Truss was once again all over the national news, for all the wrong reasons.

“People were reminded that not only is she still an MP, but she wants to continue as one, so they donated to my campaign, recognising that I am best placed to beat Liz Truss when the election comes”.

Since being confirmed as the Labour candidate at the end of February Mr Jermy has been all over the constituency, delivering campaign literature and meeting residents.

He added, “Feedback has been clear - residents in South West Norfolk want a representative in parliament who is focused on local issues and working on their behalf, not someone preoccupied with lucrative paid speeches overseas or someone more interested in increasing book sales.

“People recognise my local roots and track record for getting things done and are taking an interest in our campaign.”