Rupert Lowe standing in Great Yarmouth as Reform candidate

Ex-football boss and businessman Rupert Lowe, has announced he hopes to become Great Yarmouth's next MP standing as a candidate for Reform - the latest political venture fronted by Nigel Farage.

The Brexit campaigner has promised to be more active in the local community than Brandon Lewis, who is standing down at the next election, although the coastal town is a place he admits he "does not know very well".

Great Yarmouth Conservative MP Brandon Lewis is stepping down at the next general election (Image: UK Parliament)

"I do not know Great Yarmouth but I know about Great Yarmouth," he said, adding he has visited the town and the Broads before. 

"I have friends in Norfolk, I love the county and it still feels a real part of England."

The 66-year-old, a former MEP who is Reform's spokesperson for agriculture and business, was persuaded to stand in Norfolk by June Mummery, a key figure in Lowestoft's fishing industry who has moved in similar political circles having also been a member of the now-defunct Brexit Party.

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Views of Great Yarmouth (Image: Newsquest)

And like Ms Mummery, supporting the region's fishing trade and the farming industry is high on his agenda.

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June Mummery, former Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament and managing director of Lowestoft fish firm, BFP Eastern (Image: Brexit Party/Reform UK)

He believes bringing back the processing of produce to the area as key to supporting both the fishing and agriculture industry's growth. 

Mr Lowe, who lives in Gloucestershire, says he is "well qualified" to become Great Yarmouth's MP, with a diverse career in business and farming, which he says "is a hobby".

Rupert Lowe has previously been elected as an MEP as a Brexit Party member (Image: Reform)

He is perhaps best known for his time as chairman of Southampton Football Club, a post he held for 12 years, quitting after administrators were called in to save the Saints from collapse in 2009.

But so far his attempts at being elected as an MP have failed. Most recently when he stood at the Kingswood by-election in January this year - a south Gloucestershire constituency in which he came third.  

"I'm hoping I can make a difference to the farming and fishing community, the business community and the general wellbeing of Great Yarmouth," he said.

"The town has been overlooked by the current political system."

He will stand against Labour's candidate Kier Cozens at the next general election.

Currently, the Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are yet to announce anyone standing for them in the constituency. 

Mr Lowe will be holding a public meeting on May 10 at 6.30pm at Great Yarmouth racecourse to launch his campaign.