Nominations revealed for Norwich Parliamentary seats

Fifteen candidates are vying to be the next MP in Norwich's two parliamentary constituencies.

With just over two weeks to go until the May 6 poll, nominations closed yesterday with the final line up pretty much as expected.

Yesterday's deadline was also the last chance for people to register to vote and get a postal vote, and with thousands of people still trapped overseas this year could see a surge in the number of proxy votes.

But voters unable to get to the ballot box in person have until 5pm Tuesday to register to vote by proxy by appointing somebody they trust to vote on their behalf.

Norwich North had the highest number of candidates in Norfolk with eight people contesting the seat including independent Bill Holden, who along with candidates Chloe Smith and Glenn Tingle also stood in last year's by-election.

There are seven candidates standing in Norwich South, which will be a 'men only' contest with no female candidates, unlike its northern neighbour where there are two women.

Among the lesser known entrants are candidates for the Christian Party in Norwich North, and the Workers Revolutionary Party in Norwich South. The British National Party is also fielding candidates in the two Norwich seats.

Across Norfolk All three main parties are fielding candidates in the nine Norfolk seats up for grabs as are the UK Independence Party and the Green Party.

Yesterday the Electoral Commission said voters stuck abroad since the grounding of flights could take advantage of a proxy vote.

Andrew Scallan, the Electoral Commission's director of electoral administration, said voters stuck abroad since the grounding of flights could take advantage of a proxy vote

'Some registered voters caught overseas by the disruption to air travel may decide there's a risk they can't get to the polling station on May 6 and while it's too late to apply for a postal vote they still have time to apply for a proxy vote,' he said.

To apply for a proxy vote go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk and print off the application form, sign it and send it back to your local electoral registration office by 5pm Tuesday.

For more information call 0800 3 280 280. Registration officers should accept faxed application forms or scanned copies by e-mail, as long as the details are clearly legible including a signature.

Norwich North

John Cook (Lab), Jessica Goldfinch (Green), Bill Holden (Independent), Andrew Holland (The Christian Party), Thomas Richardson (BNP), Chloe Smith (Con), David Stephen (Lib Dem), Glenn Tingle (UKIP)

Norwich South

Charles Clarke (Lab), Steve Emmens (UKIP), Leonard Heather (BNP), Antony Little (Con), Gabriel Polley (Workers Revolutionary Party), Adrian Ramsay (Green), Simon Wright (Lib Dem)

Nominations for other Norfolk seats:

Broadland

Stuart Agnew (UKIP), Allyson Barron (Lab), Edith Crowther (BNP), Susan Curran (Green), Daniel Roper (Lib Dem), Keith Simpson (Con)

Great Yarmouth

Alan Baugh (UKIP); Laura Biggart (Green); Brandon Lewis (Con); Margaret McMahon-Morris (Lawfulness, Trustworthiness and Transparency); Simon Partridge (Lib Dem); Bosco Tann (BNP); Tony Wright (Labour).

Mid Norfolk

Timothy Birt (Green), Richard (Toby) Coke (UKIP), George Freeman (Con), Elizabeth Hughes (Lab), Christine Kelly (BNP), David Newman (Lib Dem).

North Norfolk

Michael Baker (UKIP), Andrew Boswell (Green), Phil Harris (Lab), Trevor Ivory (Con), Norman Lamb (Lib Dems), Simon Mann (Independent)

North-West Norfolk

Henry Bellingham (Con), Michael De Whalley (Green), David Fleming (BNP), John Gray (UKIP), Manish Sood (Lab), William Summers (Lib Dem)

South Norfolk

Richard Bacon (Con), Mick Castle (Lab), Evan Heasley (UKIP), Jacky Howe (Lib Dem), Helen Mitchell (BNP), and Jo Willcott (Green).

South-West Norfolk

Lori Allen (Green), Steve Gordon (Lib Dem), Kay Hipsey (UKIP),Dennis Pearce (BNP), Peter Smith (Lab), Elizabeth Truss (Con)