The Conservatives have announced the party's candidate for Norwich South in next month's general election.
The Conservatives have announced the party's candidate for Norwich South in next month's general election.
The Tories have selected Dr Mike Spencer, a consultant psychiatrist, as their candidate to try to turn the Norwich South seat blue.
Dr Spencer practices in Norwich, Cambridge and London and has degrees from the University of Cambridge.
Originally from Scotland, his first connection with they city was as a student doctor, when he was at the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital when it was based in the city centre.
He said: "I'm thrilled to have been chosen as the Conservative candidate to fight Norwich South.
"As a consultant psychiatrist with long-standing experience in child psychiatry and medical research and as the father of three young children, I'm really excited to bring the message of modern compassionate Conservative values onto the doorstep; to set out a positive vision for Norwich and for the country; and how I would champion healthcare, mental health services and medical research if elected."
The Conservatives have not held Norwich South since the 1980s and Labour's Clive Lewis doubled his majority in the 2017 general election.
But Dr Spencer insisted he was in the race to win.
He said: "I feel very positive about it.
"From the conversations I have had on the doorstep over the last few months, there has been a lot of positive comments about what we are doing as Conservatives and what Boris Johnson is doing to bring us past this gridlock of Brexit.
"I have been surprised by how many former Labour voters who say they can no longer vote for Labour because of their position on Brexit or because they cannot countenance a Jeremy Corbyn-led government.
Dr Spencer and Chloe Smith, who is hoping to win Norwich North for the Conservatives again, jointly launched their campaigns on Saturday.
Along with Dr Spencer, Norwich South candidates are Jim Adcock (Renew Party), Clive Lewis (Labour), Dr Catherine Rowett (Green) and James Wright (Liberal Democrat).
In addition to Ms Smith, Norwich North candidates are Karen Davis (Labour), Adrian Holmes (Green), Kate Lyons (Brexit Party) and Dave Thomas (Lib Dem).
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