A retired Army major is Great Yarmouth's Green candidate

Trevor Rawson announced his candidacy following Rishi Sunak's announcement that the next general election will be held on July 4.

The retired soldier, with nearly three decades of service, said not enough has been done to protect the borough's coastline and the people - especially those in Hemsby - who have been repeatedly affected by erosion.

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Five homes were demolished at the end of 2023 after the access road to The Marrams collapsed. (Image: Denise Bradley)"People have been let down by central government and left to fall into the sea," said Mr Rawson.

"That is something that needs to be brought to the forefront and things need to change."

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Green Candidate Trevor Rawson is also the run director at Great Yarmouth North Beach Parkrun. (Image: Submitted)Mr Rawson said his other main priority is better housing and more of it.

"People need better housing to have hope," he said.

"I work in the borough, and a lot of the houses I see are substandard. And while new homes are being built, we also need to look at returning derelict buildings to be used as housing."

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Green Party candidate Trevor Rawson. (Image: Submitted)Mr Rawson added he was "certainly not a career politician". 

"I am a retired army major and a business owner. I am also autistic. So I manage to juggle everything around and it leads me to be able to speak the truth because I don't know any other way of being.

"When I commit to something, I do it.

"I don't do it half-heartedly."

Green Party candidate Trevor Rawson. (Image: Trevor Rawson)The Green candidate served 29 years with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, beginning as a vehicle mechanic and retiring as a major. During his time in the forces, he was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq.

He is now the organiser of the Great Yarmouth Armed Forces Breakfast Club and is the owner of Tai Chi for Health (Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk).

THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM

While Mr Rawson said Sir Brandon Lewis was instrumental in the town securing large funds for town developments over the years, he added "he hasn't hit the needs of the town".

"If you're going to do a job you need to be committed to it," he said.

"I have communicated with him quite regularly and each time I get a party answer. I don't get a Brandon Lewis answer. He's renowned for being absent from the town and having multiple other jobs. 

"I can't comment on Keir Cozens because I don't really know him."

Mr Rawson added he was "not under any illusion the Green Party is strong in Great Yarmouth".

"But anything has got to be better than what we've got now."