Izzard backs Blizzard, Greg meets Peter

campaigning in Waveney for the May 6 general election saw a celebrity visit to Lowestoft yesterday.Comedian and marathon-running charity fundraiser Eddie Izzard drew quite a crowd when he visited the town centre with Labour candidate and sitting MP Bob Blizzard at lunchtime.

campaigning in Waveney for the May 6 general election saw a celebrity visit to Lowestoft yesterday.

Comedian and marathon-running charity fundraiser Eddie Izzard drew quite a crowd when he visited the town centre with Labour candidate and sitting MP Bob Blizzard at lunchtime.

He said: 'It's great to be here supporting Bob. We've almost got the same name, so it seemed only right that I support his campaign.

'I've always supported the Labour Party, and I firmly believe in our vision for the future of this country."

Mr Blizzard said: "It is fabulous to have Eddie here. The idea of Blizzard meeting Izzard will really set my campaign alight."

Earlier, campaigning in the constituency had got off to a steady start after the initial flurry of national media interest in Waveney that had followed the announcement of the Westminster poll.

The campaign front-runners, Conservative candidate Peter Aldous and Labour's Mr Blizzard, have both been busy around the constituency delivering leaflets and chatting to voters.

On Thursday last week, Mr Aldous was joined in Lowestoft by Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary Greg Clark, who was shown around the OrbisEnergy base at Ness Point, Lowestoft, and spoke to executives from energy company E.on about the windfarm at Scroby Sands, off Great Yarmouth.

And Mr Clark said that Lowestoft and Yarmouth had great potential for a jobs boost with the development of offshore energy installations, as long as the towns could provide the expertise.

He said: 'There is a fantastic opportunity for the big development of offshore wind [power] along this coast, but the area will need to ensure it has the skills in place to have the supply chain locate here'

Mr Aldous has also been joined on house visits by East of England MEP Geoffrey Van Orden and spent time at Lowestoft fish market speaking to fishermen about their problems and the future of the industry.

Lib Dem Alan Dean, Green Graham Elliott and UKIP's Jack Tyler have all had quieter campaigns than the front-runners so far.

And now Lowestoft-based writer Louis Barfe has joined the fray as an Independent candidate.

Mr Barfe, who has worked as a journalist and written two books, is standing on a None of The Above protest-vote slate.