As the new session of Parliament begins following last week’s State Opening, for me, this is all about being back in the Commons and working hard for the people of South Suffolk. I get the message – people voted in this month’s local elections in many cases to express frustration. So, as always, I’ll be focused on standing up for my constituents on the big issues, from farming and Labour’s damaging changes to inheritance tax; to backing small business to create jobs and prosperity in our towns and villages; to protecting our countryside; and above all, to making the case for serious action on the cost of living.
As I wrote in last month’s column, there are several steps the Government could be taking to ease the pressure on the cost of living. Particularly supporting motorists as so many of you are reliant on a car to get around our rural part of the world. After months of campaigning, we heard just this week that the Chancellor is scrapping her planned hike in fuel duty. This is a huge victory for drivers, who will be saved from paying more at the pump.
Reflecting on the local election results, I was delighted that Cllr Darius Laws was elected in the Constable division to represent villages such as East Bergholt, Capel St Mary and Nayland. Of course, it was a disappointing day, losing so many excellent hard-working councillors and with them, control of Suffolk County Council. With rumblings of Reform administrations across the country opposing Local Government Reorganisation, whatever happens next, I will always stand up for my towns and villages across South Suffolk to ensure they retain their voice in local government matters. In particular, I am concerned about the prospect of the new unitary council of Ipswich & South Suffolk in effect becoming a ‘Greater Ipswich’. In such a scenario, I worry that constituents I represent in places such as Hadleigh, East Bergholt, Capel St Mary and the Shotley Peninsula will find their voices marginalised in a council structure that includes Suffolk’s county town, with its much bigger population.
As readers will know, I had previously advocated for a single Suffolk unitary because I believe it would have saved more money and been a more efficient option overall. Equally, there is no doubt from the surveys I conducted, and the public meeting of Parish Councillors that I held in Hadleigh in September, that many of my constituents were more in favour of the three-council option.
Nevertheless, having been out canvassing during the local elections in those parts of Babergh which would be incorporated into Ipswich & South Suffolk, I found considerable unease on the doorstep as the reality is dawning on them of how they will be governed locally in the future.
A big issue here is housing and planning. Ever since becoming an MP, I’ve championed Neighbourhood Plans so people have a say on where housing is actually built within their boundaries. This is not about nimbyism; it’s about ensuring local development actually goes ahead, but in a sustainable way and with the voice of the local community legally protected. The last thing I would want is for Ipswich to impose urban sprawl on the villages and county towns of South Suffolk who have their own distinct rural identities.
Another big issue at the forefront of people’s minds is what happens to Council Tax. Back in July 2025, I set out my concern that Ipswich currently has the highest council tax of any shire district in England. We now have the obvious risk that the new unitary - Ipswich & South Suffolk - will have its tax unified at the Ipswich level, rather than the relatively lower rate that people in Babergh are used to.
As I’ve written repeatedly in this column, if we go through the pain of restructuring our local council model, with more sustainable finances and greater efficiency of services being the driving force, the savings created must be kept and spent in Suffolk. This is a very important change for how services are actually delivered in Suffolk and it’s vital we get it right.
On a positive note, this weekend we had two of my favourite events: Eurovision and of course, the Hadleigh Show. It really is a fantastic day out with something for everyone including farming fun, livestock displays, stuntmen shows, vintage tractors, art and crafts, family activities and so much more. A true celebration of our countryside, it’s more than just a show, it’s a South Suffolk tradition and I’m already looking forward to next year.
Published in the Suffolk Free Press.
