News / Dan Norris
Dan Norris to contest Jacob Rees-Mogg’s seat in general election
The West of England metro mayor is set to stand against the Conservative MP he lost his seat to 14 years ago.
Dan Norris will run as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the North East Somerset & Hanham constituency in the upcoming general election, contesting the seat currently held by Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Announcing the politicians in the running on X (formerly Twitter), broadcast journalist Michael Crick said the rematch between the two politicians “could conceivably be the big moment of 2024/25 election”.
is needed now More than ever
The Conservatives won North East Somerset by a majority of 14,729 in the last election. Boundary changes will see the existing constituency abolished to be replaced with the newly-formed North East Somerset & Hanham.
Norris was an MP for the former Wansdyke constituency in Somerset before returning to politics when he was elected as the regional mayor in May 2021.
Announcing his intention to run as a parliamentary hopeful in January, the current metro mayor told Bristol24/7 that if his bid to stand for MP is successful then he intends to work both jobs concurrently.
The Bristol City fan, who lives near Pensford, beat Conservative Samuel Williams into second place in the metro mayoral elections in May 2021, taking over the role from Tory Tim Bowles. Norris presides over the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), which has spending powers over transport, homes, skills and employment and the environment.
Speaking about his intention to throw his hat into the ring earlier in the year, Norris said: “The new seat is very similar to the former constituency of Wansdyke I previously represented with parts of South Gloucestershire plus Keynsham and the rolling countryside of North East Somerset. It’s an area I’m deeply rooted in and very proud to call home.
“I really care about the richly diverse communities here. If selected, I would do all I could to earn the trust of local people to be able to represent them in Keir Starmer’s Labour Party in Parliament.”
Labour colleagues have been congratulating Norris on his selection as they set their sights on overturning the Tory majority.
Damien Egan, who overturned a Conservative majority of 11,000 to secure victory in the Kingswood by-election, is set to run in the newly-formed Bristol North East constituency in the upcoming general election.
West of England metro mayor Dan Norris (right) has previously said he will work both jobs if he is elected as an MP – photo: WECA
Main photo: WECA
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
