Election Exclusives: Reform UK candidate Toby McKenzie ‘in it to win it’ against Liz Truss in South West Norfolk
“I’m in it to win it,” a Reform candidate has insisted as he bids to take Liz Truss’ seat at the general election.
Toby McKenzie, who lives in Stoke Holy Cross - just outside Norwich - is standing as the Reform UK candidate in South West Norfolk next week.
He admits that, with fewer time to prepare than anticipated, he and the party could be looking at the next election before they make a real impact.
However, with Reform closing the gap to the Conservative Party in the polls - and with many across South West Norfolk calling for change - he believes a shock victory is not out of the question.
Mr McKenzie’s parents live in the constituency, so he does have ties to it.
He works full-time during the week, and so his canvassing so far has largely taken place over the weekends when he gets a spare moment.
However, he has appeared at hustings events as well - including at Downham’s Methodist Church last week.
Having only got involved with his party towards the tail end of last year, he admits that he is effectively “starting from scratch”.
Speaking to the Lynn News, Mr McKenzie said: “For me, it's about getting as much brand recognition out there, getting a good foundation and just keeping people optimistic and saying, ‘Look, we're here to stay, we're not going away’.
“I want to give it the best, really, and just get that foundational support and then build on it for ultimately the next election.
“But who knows? I mean, I might get in. I'm in it to win it - my chances are fair.”
According to some polls, the Conservatives are facing a total wipeout in Norfolk at next week’s election, with no MPs elected to Westminster for the first time in the party’s history.
Liz Truss, who has been South West Norfolk MP since 2010, has faced fierce criticism in recent weeks from those running against her.
As well as Mr McKenzie, they include Independent James Bagge, Labour’s Terry Jermy, Pallavi Devulapalli of the Green Party, Liberal Democrat Josie Ratcliffe, Lorraine Douglas of the Communist Party of Britain, the Heritage Party’s Gary Conway, and Earl Elvis Of East Anglia from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.
However, in stark contrast, Mr McKenzie has not taken aim at Ms Truss specifically - which he admits “probably goes against the grain”.
“I'm trying to focus on what I'm doing in the positive messaging, rather than focusing on individuals, if that makes sense,” he says.
“She hasn't been around. She was initially around when she was first elected - it was great. She was really helpful.
“But most say to me, if they do talk about Liz Truss - because they're the ones to talk to me about it, I don't bring it up - they'll say… she doesn’t seem to be very visible unless there's an election.
“But most people are against the party as a whole rather than individual.”
Reform UK has been among the most controversial parties during the general election campaign, with many people voicing their outward dislike for leader Nigel Farage.
This has frustrated Mr McKenzie, who says being able to disagree with others without fear of retribution is an important feature of democracy.
What’s more, he says the engagement he has had from members of the public while he has been canvassing has been positive on the whole - with support in Thetford and Downham particularly strong.
“You're allowed to have different opinions, and that's essentially what's driven me for a while now,” he says.
“I used to teach, so I'm a big proponent of free speech and choice of options.
“The plan has always been to try and get a few people in the door, first of all, and then just grow, grow, grow and have the structure and have the data.
“There's a lot of people who just say thank you for trying and standing up. I feel quite positive and feedback's been really good.”
Mr McKenzie says he voted Conservative for most of his life, but in recent years became more of a tactical voter.
However, he has a bit of “old school Labour” in him, as well as a touch of Green.
He took on his first management role with Norfolk County Council at the start of the Covid pandemic, and has also worked in animal welfare and for the NHS.
So what does he stand for as a Reform candidate now? What would be his aims for South West Norfolk?
“I think I would offer somebody who just likes to get things done rather than just sitting on committees all the time and just talking about things. I'd like to get things done.
“I'm not a massive talker. I’m just like, ‘Okay, what's the problem? How can we resolve it?’ If it's going to upset a few people, so be it.
“I've done different jobs and careers and I guess I'm coming from the bottom up rather than top down. So I know what it's like and how difficult it is to to be on their wages and exist to live. It's a challenge.
“I don't think there's anybody who's got practical solutions and who's got the conviction to actually make some decisions, because I think they're worried about being career politicians.”
Mr McKenzie adds: “I appreciate the people who've got different opinions, and I like that because at least I know where they stand.
“But we have people who just constantly change and you don't know where they stand. Then it's very difficult for everybody, and you can see why so many people are off with politics.”
Mr McKenzie says he would look to make corporation tax cuts to help boost business in South West Norfolk.
Meanwhile, he believes a change preventing people paying income tax until they own £20,000 would be a “huge policy”.
Cutting fuel duty and making high street parking free would also be close to the top of his agenda if elected.
He has also objected to Cranswick’s plans to create two mega-farms housing 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs in Methwold.
“I've smelled pig farms, and chicken farms are worse in my mind,” he says.
He does not believe Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is “working class whatsoever” and thinks Reform offers a better option.
Despite his past experiences, he offers one final message to South West Norfolk residents: “I would say just vote for the party you want to vote for - don't think about tactical voting.
“Just follow your passion and then you'll feel so much better for it afterwards.
“I think we have become lazy. We need to take ownership of our political system and get engaged. Get out there and vote.”