Julia Ewart announced as Lib Dem candidate for Suffolk Coastal

The Liberal Democrats have selected their candidate to face off against incumbent Therese Coffey at next year’s election.

Julia Ewart, East Suffolk Councillor for Kelsale and Yoxford, will once again be at the podium representing the Lib Dems, after previously standing in 2019.

Cllr Ewart doubled the Lib Dem vote when she stood in 2019, but still fell short of Dr. Coffey.

Suffolk Coastal encompasses the towns of Felixstowe, Southwold and Aldeburgh.

Julia said: “Suffolk Coastal is so very ready for change and in the recent council elections, electors voted for just such a change.

“Residents know that they now have a highly effective team of councillors who will genuinely listen to their needs and get things done, and when I’m speaking to residents in my capacity as a councillor and as a volunteer, they are telling me they want a proactive MP who is going to deliver on their promises; cleaning up the rivers and coastline, tackling rural crime and ensuring we get social housing back on track.

“The public are truly done with paying taxes and getting so little back in return; everyone must have access to good quality education, healthcare, dental services and mental support.

“I’ve seen first-hand how this constituency has been neglected and taken for granted, and I believe the people here deserve more.”

In the may local elections, the Lib Dems won 11 council seats and the Tories took 15 in the Suffolk Coastal constitutency.

This was a loss of 15 wards for the Tories.

Cllr Ewart has lived in the Suffolk Coastal area for more than 25 years, and started her career as a Nightingale nurse, later leaving the NHS to raise a family and run an interior design business.

Since its inception, Suffolk Coastal has been represented by the Conservatives; from 1983 to 2010 by John Gummer, and then from 2010 onwards by Dr. Coffey.