Did anyone vote for a Greater Ipswich being imposed on their towns and villages at the last General Election? Short answer, no.
The fact is, Labour are imposing Local Government Reorganisation on Suffolk without a clear mandate for the actual changes they are proposing. Whilst in principle I’ve always supported a unitary authority for Suffolk, my big fear is that one of the proposed unitary councils could become 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.
To be clear, the reason I support a unitary government for Suffolk is that the current split between district and county councils can cause inefficiency, and confusion - undermining delivery of good quality services. 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 in those parts of Babergh which would be incorporated into Ipswich & South Suffolk – the option which is potentially the ‘Greater Ipswich’ – I’ve 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. Whatever happens, it will be a top priority of mine, and all our Conservative candidates standing for the elections this Thursday, to spend the coming months arguing for a fair deal for all Babergh communities, whichever unitary they fall into.
On a positive note, it was fantastic to have Kemi Badenoch visiting South Suffolk this week. She joined me in Long Melford to speak to local businesses such as Nethergate Brewery and Hall Street Ladies & Menswear to find out more about what’s happening at the coal face of our local economy. As I’ve also found on recent visits, increases to Business Rates continues to be a major issue for small local businesses with some even facing the prospect of closure due to their rising tax bills. That’s why it’s so important to vote for local councillors who will stand up and back our fantastic local businesses. Whatever happens on May 7th, I’ll continue doing all I can to support these businesses and champion our local economy.
Published in the East Anglian Daily Times.
