“Our region deserves an optimistic and progressive Mayor, working for everyone. I will fight for investment, decent homes, better jobs, and protection of our natural environment.”
Watch my short video below to find out more
👇
Chris’ Top Priorities:
Transport
Investment in rail, buses, active travel and rural connections.
Norfolk and Suffolk have long suffered from underinvestment in transport infrastructure. Major schemes like the Ely and Haughley Junction upgrades, critical for freight, passenger connectivity and economic growth, keep being delayed. While cycle networks and electric buses in Norwich are welcome, too many areas remain left behind.
We need to:
Back Rail Investment
Fund long-delayed schemes like Ely and Haughley Junctions to unlock freight, passenger connectivity and economic growth.
Connect Rural Communities
Prioritise rural villages and market towns with reliable transport for education, healthcare, work and leisure.
Expand Sustainable Public Transport
Grow bus routes and community transport options, giving people greener, affordable alternatives.
Deliver a Regional Transport Plan
Work with Cambridgeshire and Essex on an integrated, sustainable plan for the East of England.
Boost Active Travel
Invest in cycle routes and walking networks, promoting health, well-being and low-carbon travel.
Skills and Jobs
Support for energy, agri-tech, logistics, advanced manufacturing, tourism, agriculture.
Norfolk and Suffolk are thriving, with opportunities across energy, agri-tech, food science, advanced manufacturing, tourism and more.
We have a national advantage in clean energy, with Sizewell C, offshore wind, carbon capture opportunities, and future innovations like energy storage, SMRs and smart grids. Agri-tech, science and engineering businesses are creating skilled jobs, while our farming sector leads in sustainability and food production.
Tourism remains a major employer, showcasing the beauty of our counties. Stronger links, such as the Cambridge–Norwich Tech Corridor and vital port investment from Felixstowe to King’s Lynn, will strengthen our role in the UK economy.
The new Norfolk & Suffolk Growth Plan will build collaboration between our two counties, unlocking shared opportunities and driving regional growth.
Housing
Affordable homes and social housing so families and future generations can thrive.
Decent, affordable housing is the foundation of stronger communities and a fairer society.
Build More Affordable Homes
Decades of missed targets have left councils struggling with rising temporary accommodation. We need more affordable and social housing to meet demand.
Support Local Plans
Work with councils and new local authorities to deliver sustainable housing solutions, including building new council homes.
Explore New Towns
Investigate opportunities for new towns in the region, ensuring high standards for sustainability, affordability, infrastructure and environmental gains.
Develop Skills for Housing Growth
Back skills training and job creation to ensure we have the workforce needed to build the homes our communities rely on.
Prevention, protection, and rehabilitation for safer communities
Policing & Crime
A safer Norfolk and Suffolk means tackling crime, supporting victims, and giving people better paths in life.
Reduce Reoffending
Accelerate rehabilitation and support, cutting crime while helping people rebuild their lives.
End Violence Against Women & Girls
Tackle abuse and violence with stronger action and better victim support.
Support Young People
Expand youth initiatives and mentoring to prevent offending and open up life chances.
Strengthen Neighbourhood Policing
Make policing more visible, accessible and trusted in every community.
Improve Rural Crime Response
Equip rural crime teams to respond quickly and effectively across our counties.
Clean power, low carbon innovation, climate action, biodiversity.
NET-ZERO & NATURE
Tackling the climate and nature crisis is essential for our future — and it brings real benefits for people, jobs and communities.
Lead on Climate Action
Make the Combined Authority a national leader in carbon reduction, biodiversity and sustainable policy.
Put Nature at the Heart of Planning
Embed environmental priorities into every strategic decision for Norfolk and Suffolk.
Support Local Action
Back community projects that cut emissions, boost conservation and protect natural spaces.
Deliver Real Benefits
Create green jobs, lower energy bills, support mental health, and safeguard our countryside for future generations.
About Chris
Chris Brown has spent more than 25 years standing up for Liberal Democrat values — as a councillor, candidate, campaigner, and community voice. He is not just a politician; he is also a husband, father, business owner, and committed volunteer who understands the pressures families and communities face today.
Standing Up for Communities
Chris has served as a Councillor and Leader of the Opposition on South Norfolk Council since 2019, working hard to hold the council to account and push for fairer, greener, and more forward-thinking policies. He has also stood as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for South Norfolk in 2017, 2019, and 2024, taking local voices to the national stage.
From his first election to Reading Borough Council in 2001, Chris has consistently worked to give residents a stronger voice. Over the years, he has taken on senior local party roles in South Norfolk, Cambridge, and Reading, while also lending his energy to campaigns across the country — from Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire to London and Leicester.
Professional Leadership
Outside politics, Chris runs his own consultancy as an experienced PR and communications professional. With over two decades of expertise in public relations, community engagement, and communications, he has worked across key sectors such as housing, transport, energy, waste and recycling, water, and public services.
Chris is a Chartered PR Practitioner and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) — skills he brings to building stronger communities and delivering real solutions.
A Record of Service
Service has always been at the heart of Chris’s life. He has been a Trustee of a local homelessness charity for 7 years, and previously supported another homelessness charity in Reading between 2006 and 2008. He also spent 8 years as a school governor, including time as Chair, and has volunteered with educational charities to open doors for young people.
Rooted in Family and Community
Chris lives in Norfolk with his wife and three sons. As a husband and father, he understands the importance of creating opportunities for every child and ensuring communities have the support they need to thrive.
For Chris, politics is about listening first — and then leading with action. He brings together experience, integrity, and a deep commitment to the people he serves.
