Battleground Anglia: South West Norfolk

The Conservatives won the South West Norfolk constituency at the 2010 General Election with a majority of more than 13,000 votes. Credit: ITV News Anglia

The Conservatives won the South West Norfolk constituency at the 2010 General Election with a majority of more than 13,000 votes.

South West Norfolk encompasses many rural communities, such as Mundford, as well as larger market towns like Thetford, Downham Market and Swaffham. It stretches from Garboldisham in the south east to Walpole Highway in the north west.

Geographically, it's the biggest constituency in the Anglia region at 131,073 hectares (506 square miles). It's also the most sparsely populated with only 0.8 people per hectare.

  • Conservative majority in 2010: 13,140

  • After NW Norfolk and Mid Norfolk, this seat is the third safest of the nine seats in Norfolk

  • Labour would need a swing of 15% to win in 2015 and the Lib Dems would need a 13% swing

The South West Norfolk seat has been held by the Conservatives since 1964. Labour held it from 1945-51 and again from 1955 until 1964.

Environment Secretary Liz Truss won the seat for the Conservatives in 2010.

Candidates in 2015

  • Rupert Moss-Eccardt - Liberal Democrats

  • Peter Smith - Labour

  • Paul Smyth - UKIP

  • Liz Truss - Conservative

  • Sandra Walmsley - Green