In 2019 Liz Truss was once again elected MP for South West Norfolk – her fourth election win.
The then international trade secretary and later prime minister romped home to victory with nearly 70% of the vote.
Her constituency was one of the safest in the country.
But now, if the polls are to be believed, it is hanging in the balance.
A dramatic reversal of fortune akin to her time in Downing Street.
And it is that brief, the shortest premiership, which seems to have played an important part in why even in this most conservative of constituencies Conservatives are considering not voting for her.
“My husband lost 40% of his pension when she did what she did. So he’s 67 and still working,” one voter said to me.
Another talked about how she couldn’t vote for Truss because her daughter’s mortgage had risen three times in the past 18 months.
It went on and on.
In fact, I was taken aback by the reaction.
I’ve spent a lot of my time talking to voters in different parts of the country over the past decade and I can’t remember a more visceral reaction to one candidate – and not in a good way.
Time again, there was criticism about how little Truss spends in the constituency and how visible she is during the campaign.
Lots of voters complained of the few chances they had had to interact with her – brief visits and Facebook posts was the criticism.
A spokesperson for Truss claimed the former prime minister has never attended hustings at any election but she does hold constituency surgeries however doesn’t publicly advertise them for security reasons.
It wasn’t entirely negative for Truss, with one voter saying they were leaning towards voting for her and another saying they were wavering but had been spooked by the “tax issue” with Labour.
Others remained undecided ahead of the election, with one voter saying: “I’m a bit undecided, you hear so much, you don’t know who to go for.”
But her political opponents are trying to make this election effectively a referendum on Truss.
The Labour Party, which drew little support here five years ago, reckons it is now in with a chance.
Terry Jermy, the party’s candidate, said: “At the start of this election campaign I didn’t intend to write a victory speech… I’m writing one now.”
The Lib Dems too argue Truss’ record is coming up on the doorstep. “People are very disappointed with her performance as our constituency MP,” says Josie Radcliffe.
Another candidate, James Bagge, is pitching himself as a true-blue independent Conservative – even if he frankly has a small chance of success.
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Truss’ campaign didn’t take up the offer of an interview, insisting she is not engaging with national media, in a statement to Sky News. They said she’s focusing her time on the campaign trail talking directly to residents and as an experienced, high-profile campaigner who will continue to fight for traditional conservative values and stand up for South West Norfolk.
When you stand in a safe Conservative seat, as a former PM, you don’t ordinarily need to worry.
But this is no ordinary election and Truss is a very divisive politician.
It means for the first time in generations this part of Norfolk is up for grabs.
Source Agencies
