THE Norwich North by election campaign upped sticks from the constituency and went to the Royal Norfolk Show yesterday as Conservative candidate Chloe Smith was joined by shadow ministers at the showground.

THE Norwich North by election campaign upped sticks from the constituency and went to the Royal Norfolk Show yesterday as Conservative candidate Chloe Smith was joined by shadow ministers at the showground.

Speaking at the Young Farmers' Club stand, 27-year-old Miss Smith, who has been joined in the constituency by a string of high profile supporters in recent days, said she had a schedule which included meeting representatives of the National Farmers' Union, Country Land and Business Association, Women's Institute, rural businesses and those involved in diversification projects.

She was with Nick Herbert, shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, and Jim Paice, shadow agriculture minister.

Just 22 days away from the July 23 by-election, Miss Smith added: “The thing I like most about the show is the mix of community, agriculture, charity, voluntary and commercial.

“The Royal Norfolk Show is a fantastic event for the whole of the county. Every day between now and the election we will be campaigning without a doubt, days like this make it all the more enjoyable.”

Mr Herbert said he would have been at the showground irrespective of the by-election, but added that he was also present to lend his support to Miss Smith, who he described as a “very strong candidate” with a “terrific chance”.

“Agriculture is a vitally important industry, particularly in Norfolk, it puts food on our tables.

“One of the main reasons I am here is because we need to remember that rural communities matter.

“Rural people feel disrespected by this government.”

Mr Herbert said he was also helping to promote the Conservative's campaign Honest Food, designed to ensure food labelled as British was in fact born and bred in Britain