A Local hero deserves a Gong by Ben Gummer

This is a delightful newsletter from our MP Ben Gummer. He so rightly and richly gives praise to Sally Wainman - A woman I admire and respect greatly too! From Ben:   You know those moments so embarrassing that when you look back you slightly shudder at the memory of it all?  Well, I’ve had mercifully few as an MP but the worst was served – justifiably – on me by well-known local campaigner Sally Wainman.   Sally was one of my opponents in the 2010 election – standing not for a mainstream party but one a platform of saving Broomhill Pool.  Now, that may sound like a quixotic exercise: no one, not even Sally, thought she would win the seat, but she stood nevertheless because she was absolutely serious about her cause.   I had met Sally before and liked her: she is a determined campaigner and has an enormous heart.  During that election campaign I bumped into her in the Warren Heath Sainsbury’s, late at night just before it was due to close.  She asked how things were going and I said I thought it would be very close and that every vote would count.  In fact, I joked, if she endorsed me I would happily support her Broomhill Pool campaign – even though I only had the deep end in my constituency.  She laughed at me, quite rightly, and we finished our shopping.   A few weeks later, I was in the church hustings in Christchurch Tacket Street and someone asked the candidates from the floor what they thought of the Broomhill Pool.  Now, Sally was not on the stage, as the organisers had restricted it to the main parties.  But she was there alright.  So when I gave an equivocal answer, saying that I supported the campaign but that I thought there were other priorities that I would campaign first, Sally repeated from the back our conversation in Sainsbury’s.  I will forgive her quoting me out of context, because it was an expert move: in the parlance of politicos, she “burned” me.  Even now when I think about it, I think “oohh… ouch!”   So, I hope you can see why I have a particular respect for Sally Wainman.  Some might have dismissed her six local and general election attempts, on a Save Broomhill Pool ticket, as eccentric – not least because she has spent several thousand pounds on lost deposits in the process.  People giggled at her but it is Sally who has had the last laugh, because when the idea of reopening Broomhill Pool had few supporters in Ipswich, she kept the idea alive by standing for elected office and thereby forcing the issue onto the agenda.   Thanks to her stoicism and to the whole committee of the Broomhill Pool Trust, two otherwise under-enthused councils were persuaded to put aside capital money – in honesty, believing they would never need to spend it.  But the Trust did its part and secured a private operator and between them they have secured lottery money to take the project to fruition.  There is one more hurdle to jump but they now have a clear run at it.  It is a remarkable achievement and a real credit to genuinely brilliant community campaigning.   Don’t take my word for it: on Wednesday Sally was a finalist in the Mirror Pride of Sport Awards, as Local Hero of the Year.  That is precisely what she is.  I genuinely do not believe that Broomhill Pool would have happened without Sally keeping the idea alive election after election.  She deserves every ounce of praise she now gets.  Getting burned by Sally was worth the pleasure of seeing her succeed in this great local ambition.

Opening Sailmakers last week.  This Morning I opened the new building for Chantry Academy. The happiest, proudest moment of my time as Ipswich's MP. Welcome to Ben's regular newsletter. If you have any comments or concerns, please get in touch with my team.  Email: Ben can be contacted directly at ben@bengummer.com Ben's office address is: 9 Fore Street Ipswich IP4 1JW 01473 232 883

National Citizens Service - Post by Ben Gummer MP

I have had it repeated to me many times on the doorstep, normally from older men: we need to bring back National Service.  I agree with the sentiment, even if I don’t think young men should be put through compulsory military training any more.  The fact is that most of us come out of school pretty green and anything that helps develop maturity, resilience and character is a good thing.   Which is why National Citizens Service is so special.  A personal initiative of the prime minister, NCS has been going for a few years now and is gaining in reputation, popularity and strength.  You can see why: it gives young people a chance to do something very different – a community project, volunteering, team working – with people that they have not met before or worked with.  It is challenging, exciting and at the end of it, most teams have something tangible to show for their summer’s efforts.   Just over the last couple of years I have seen the calibre of projects increase.  Even so, nothing I have seen so far matched the dream of this year’s Team 12, led by Diana Ramalho, Laura Bridges and Julia Rusek, who came to see me to explain what they wanted to do.   Moved by the effect the loss of a child has on a family, Diana, Laura and Julia wanted to create a garden in Holywells Park that would be a place where families could remember their little loved ones, leave a permanent memorial and be a gathering place where people who shared so great a loss could be together and support each other.   What was so impressive is what they had already achieved before they came to see me: a space in Holywells Park, and corporate sponsorship and a fundraising plan to help pay for the beautiful space they had conceived.  They have called it the Magic Garden Project and I am sure that for families, it will be precisely that.   The legacy of Team 12’s efforts will be greater than this Magic Garden, however: there will be a dozen or so young men and women with experience and confidence in fundraising and project management that most people in their forties do not possess.  That is something that National Service never provided and which NCS is doing for young people across Britain.  It’s a great project and it is yielding results not just for the individuals involved but for the communities they live in and sought to serve.   Little Aylan   The loss of a child has been very much at the forefront of our minds in the last week.  As a father of a little boy, just on the verge of being able to walk, my stomach turned with particular force on seeing the harrowing pictures of little Aylan face down in the surf.  His is a tragedy of millions, forced from their homes in a war on our doorstep.  This is no far and distant land and we are seeing the effects now not just in Calais but on the European beaches where British people have been spending their summer holidays.   We must be clear about the scale of response that is required.  We cannot just help those most vulnerable who need a home: it is imperative that we do what we can to crush the evil that is forcing them out of their country in the first place.  Even if it were the right thing to walk on by – and it is not – it is in our own interests to do much more.

Welcome to Ben's regular newsletter. If you have any comments or concerns, please get in touch with my team.  Email: Ben can be contacted directly at ben@bengummer.com Ben's office address is: 9 Fore Street Ipswich IP4 1JW 01473 232 883

Labour's Pledge - Now I know they've lost

I received the latest newsletter from Labour as part of the general election campaign and it has provoked me to take to my blog again, even though I had no intention of writing today.

I have a lot of work to do over the next couple of weeks but really, it is my duty to point a few things out to the people of Ipswich and beyond.

Let's take the front pages;

Labour will;
Balance the Books - now that's enough to make anyone choke on their muesli in the morning and I can't believe the affront of these people. Do the designers and marketing team have a really good laugh when composing these things back at Labour HQ?
Did they look it up first to see what it meant - Hey guys, balance the books? Anyone know how many books on our heads we are promising to balance while we talk a good talk?

Better wages - okay so that good old platitude - better - because everyone falls for that don't they? How will the wages be better - perhaps they mean give them a few years and we will be paid in Euros, if they have their way. Is that better?  Or perhaps they mean they will make those horrible businesses who dare to think of dirty words like profit and shareholders pay more for their staff irrespective of the going rate or the quality of workmanship. Labour have proved themselves to be a total disaster just talking about business, never mind poking their nose in.
Labour and Mr Cruddas - Mind your own business first eh?

Back the next generation - Another platitude and because, of course, Tories don't have children do they? so why would they want to back the next generation?  I mean, not only have we set up the best apprenticeship system this country has seen for decades (yes sorry Milliband, we got there before you but then your head is so far up your own..) but we have also helped so many back into work with youth unemployment reaching an all time low.
They will have you believe that these new jobs are zero contract or part time, but this is just UNTRUE. Most jobs are full time. They constantly tell lies and at best are disingenuous.

Freeze energy bills - Yes folks they have actually repeated it. If they'd have been in power we would have had our energy bills frozen at the optimum level, just before they decreased. They are useless at predicting the future, just as they were when they sold off all our gold at rock bottom prices. They are the part that just keep giving and then Bill Somebody (Eh, Mr Balls?).

Cut tax with a low 10p starting rate - OH MY WORD!
Not only did they scrap this level before they thankfully left government BUT we have replaced it with 0, yes 0 tax by upping the allowance by a generous amount. What planet are they on - it simply beggars belief that people would fall for this.
Jam tomorrow made from last years rotting fruit methinks...

Take the next soundbite on their literature - this is such a total untruth it almost makes me feel sorry for their desperation. Apparently;-

People are now £1600 worse off a year - This figure is just plucked from the backsides of those that failed their maths GCSE and furthermore, it does not take into account the raise in tax allowance.

Of course we're a little worse off but we are on the road to recovery - abled again only by a conservative led government - just as we have had to do before, following a labour legacy.

I can understand the die hards (the forever labour voters who stand by this shambles of a party) if you sign up to their core values - like equal outcomes, nanny state, co-sign on victimhood, large state, envy politics but if they really asked themselves the hard questions like - how about thinking in terms of equal opportunities, small state, self responsibility, co-sign on survivorhood - ooh and thinking of Ed as our prime minister and how the Greek government on the far left are going to fail their country miserably over the next few months, then common sense must surely prevail?

I'm keeping this manifesto of theirs - I think it's the moment they lost the battle of the words and credibility - vote for them at OUR peril...

And as far as Ipswich is concerned there really is only one man for the job - the one that's been doing it brilliantly for nearly 5 years and with another term will show this country and our young people that this party is the one that has the long term view of prosperity, even if we have to give a bit of tough love,

Don't know about the labour bloggers but I have work to do

It has really brought home to me recently how certain labour councillors who blog and tweet should seriously consider where their time is best spent.

I know I have neglected this site a little in recent weeks but that's because:

I have spent many hours saving a resident in Stoke Park ward from eviction, which meant representing her at court, meetings with IBC about her benefits, emails and phone calls to the housing association etc etc

I have spent time on case work including preparing to represent a resident at a planning committee

I have read hundreds of pages of council and executive papers in order to hold the labour admin to account

I have been delivering and knocking on doors to speak to residents. I have been working hard on behalf of Ben Gummer who is the finest MP we have seen for many a decade and he is worth my time.

I have fitted in being group leader and shadow portfolio for finance

I have been preparing to give an alternative to labour for Ipswich residents for our manifesto

And much much more...

This took me about 5 minutes to type because I wasn't trying to think up anything clever or derogatory about the other side who seem to spend a lot of time trying to goad me on twitter and have faux rants all through the evening about stuff that has nothing to do with me. Nor was I looking to write a masterpiece. This is about - what is your councillor doing?

I think they need to get out more..

Ipswich Conservative News and Action

Normally August would be a quiet time, a month in which to catch one's breath and to reflect.

However, we Ipswich conservative activists have been working several times a week to talk to residents, listen to their problems and views but most of all have been busy holding the labour administration to account.

There are so many decisions they are taking that appear to be riding roughshod over the thinking and wishes of anybody else. I can forgive them for not wanting to indulge their opposition but this is not what I am alluding to here.

Let's take the Ravenswood proposal. Nearly 100 council homes that the local residents are up in arms about - see my last post and yet the language and stance shows they have already made up their minds about this.

The issue for me is one of common sense - In a few years time those new homes may very well have been bought by the tenants under the right to buy which will mean we will lose an asset, and the tenant will have bought at a huge discount, whereas putting funds into shared ownership or the Help to Buy supports people in owning their own home from the beginning. But then that would be more inspiring and empowering, wouldn't it?!

Developers have been put off in the past by the Labour administration's insistence on things like 35% social housing to be included, which means that Labour now use under-building as an excuse to grow their share of the vote with large council developments. The public meeting showed that others disagree with them and would prefer to see help in other ways, alongside building a few council houses but peppered around the town. This way integration doesn't have to wait for tenants to buy their house.

Before that we had the call in on Argyle street concerning the Bangladeshi Support Centre. This has caused many problems within the community because it seems that Cllr Ellesmere was dealing with only one part of the group whereas another part of the group was also hoping to benefit from the site - I won't go into too much detail here - and had no knowledge of what the Labour administration were doing.

This means that Cllr Ellesmere is having to rethink the whole idea - something that wouldn't have been necessary if he had opened up the lease to all, using a competitive process. The whole point of my call in was because of my concern about fairness and openness but I didn't expect my case to be proved immediately afterwards. It was because of the publicity brought by the call in that other parts of the Bangladeshi community were made aware.
This has caused hurt to a wonderful group of people and that is why I have left them to it. It is far better for there to be a win/win situation rather than have even more newspaper articles. I will not be giving out any press releases on this subject and just hope that Cllr Ellesmere does the right thing.

Overview and Scrutiny (who agreed to look at this as part of my request at the call in) can ensure that this never happens again.

On a lighter note, we had a stall at the Ipswich maritime festival for all 3 days of the event and covered by conservative councillors and activists. We gave out Ben's newsletters, surveys and balloons. My own grandson proudly took one of the balloons but burst it within an hour, which brought a few tears so I made sure it was replaced the next day. I went again but this time with my whole family on the Sunday, which gave me much joy as I watched my grandchildren having a great time at the children's fun fair and making clay pots to take home to paint. It was a great event - and I never went near the beer tent!

Last but not least, I have instigated a new regular community activity for Stoke park in the Cambridge drive area. A resident brought up something that had been bothering me for quite a while, pertaining to that one part of my ward, which was a lack of a community centre. I asked an IBC community development officer to look at providing some activities at the Chantry Gym Centre on Birkfield drive and to cut a long story short, I will be seeking funds at the next Area Committee meeting, which I know will be supported by my fellow stoke park councillors. This will pay for the hire of the room, for a year, and we hope to bring in a variety of leisure activities for those that live nearby - crafts, pilates, tea dances, film evenings and perhaps a lunch. Look out for the flyers and posters which will be advertising it soon.

The northern fringe was an important paper at the last executive and you can see the film of the meeting courtesy of Ipswich Spy. However I will blog in more detail about this when it is brought to the next full council meeting 17th September. Ben Gummer spoke at the executive as we are concerned about the masterplan and infrastructure - so watch this space.

An Exciting Week with a visit to no 10

Last week was probably the best and most exciting week of my political journey.

It started a few days before when I received an invitation from the Prime Minister, to attend a reception at 10 downing street, via direct mail and totally out of the blue.

I was so delighted - it came a few days before my birthday and I wrongly guessed the envelope was just one of those marketing happy birthday cards with a discount offer - which would've put a little smile on my face. But this? - well I have to admit, my mouth was wide open for a few seconds as I took it in and read it several times in case it was a joke.

It took me a few days to find out why but it seems it was a reward for working so hard in my ward and for campaigning work. There was no way I was going to miss this little treat, so preparations began.

The start of the week was my birthday and although I don't like them coming round so quickly these days, I did decide to treat myself to several things including some nail work - the first time in my life that my hands were professionally made beautiful. I had a great day and that was the start to a really great week.

The Big day arrived and I was looking after my grandson in the morning - I do this every Wednesday and will not change it for anything, we adore one another and I cant bear to be away from him for too long - Plus afterwards, I had enough time to get ready and set off for the station to meet the other invitees, Councillor Liz Harsant, Eddie Phillips, Bob Hall, Paul West and Katherine Parkinson - all work tirelessly for the residents and the Ipswich conservatives.

It was on the train that I was reminded about my invitation card - my heart did a lurch when I realised I hadnt got it! This thing that I had lovingly looked at on a regular basis had passed me by the one time I was supposed to have it!

Being an optimist I wasn't worried, and I knew they had my name on a list, although I was annoyed with myself because I am always so diligent in such administrative things but hey ho, my hubby retrospectively enjoyed the fact that little miss Admin Perfect was human after all (by the way - I am not perfectly organised when it comes to bills - just travel documents, work and council papers. My bills disappear with the socks!).

I was perfectly happy to try my luck and get Ben Gummer to sort but my companions decided that it was a risk too far and started to organise for hubby to pick up the docs and pay for a train ride down to Westminster for me to be reconnected with my invite and proof of identity.

Thankfully, just as he was handing his credit card over to the ticket master, I called him back to put a halt, as Ben Gummer had quickly got onto the event organiser and all was well. My trust in him once more validated.

We met Ben at Westminster and spent some time listening to a debate with Gove and Tristam Hunt - Gove was sparkling with wit, cleverness and knowledge. The whipper snapper Hunt was no match but came across respectfully and with intelligence.

I was pleased to see Nadine Dorres involved in the debate. Apparently she has a good record of attendance and this was borne out again by her attendance in a half empty commons room. I also liked the deputy speaker who had no problem barking orders at Gove et al. She's a lot more pleasing to the eye than Bercow too!

This was followed by a catch up over tea with Ben..

From there we walked to Downing street. Knowing we were not going to be able to take pictures inside, I can only give you this one as proof of my safe arrival through the gates.

I think my best moment of reflection inside the house was walking up the staircase and through the rooms that Margaret thatcher once trod. I imagined her receiving MPs, guests and making our country great once more behind these secretive doors and it was fantastic to remember the first female prime minister whilst waiting to greet the current one.

After some wine and food, and then more wine and food - the PM made his great entrance and it wasn't too long before I found myself in front of him once more (I met him last year in Ipswich and spoke to him about grandparents rights) and this time I chose to speak to him about Ipswich, my upcoming re-election, Ben Gummer and our need to keep him as our MP especially as we are not happy with how Labour are running the IBC administration.

More importantly he accepted our invitation to visit Ipswich again.

I noticed that the PM had a little bit of knowledge about all of the constituencies represented in the room and he was every inch the statesmen.

His speech afterwards was excellent and reminded us all of how much we have already achieved in such a short time. To see the light at the end of the tunnel after only 3.5 years having inherited such a mess, is something to be proud of. I felt totally motivated and inspired.

Unfortunately I had to miss the council meeting but asking the PM to come to Ipswich again, talking to him about some of the issues in Ipswich was a far more important role, and one that I wouldn't have missed for anything. After nearly 8 years as a councillor it was a reward that will not come my way easily again. Listening to the labour administration, offering papers and policies that have already been decided by them at executive and outside council and being patronised by some of their members, is something that has been there and will continue to be there many times to come!

The evening ended in a pub near Liverpool St station before boarding a punctual train back to my beloved Ipswich.

And the whole affair is now safely stored in the memory bank.....

Children's Early years and Why we must get it right

News from Ben and Ipswich Conservatives September 2013 Month Year

This is one of the most important subjects, in my opinion, and interests me not just as a politician but also in my work, and I'm so pleased to see the cross party working it has finally encouraged. Even before the years where they start school, we have a more crucial period in which politicians national and local, can make a huge difference.  Here's Ben Gummers post Why children's early years are so important Below this column you will see the most important photo in British politics today. It shows scans of two three-year-old brains.  The larger, fully developed brain is that of a child who has enjoyed a healthy upbringing.  The smaller, less developed brain is that of a child that has suffered extreme neglect.  What I want to talk about today is the recent explosion of interest in the early years of a child's life, the advances in what brain science tells us about their importance and the excitement that this is generating in Westminster. Yesterday morning, I was involved in the launch a decisive new cross-party manifesto, 'The 1001 Critical Days: The Importance of the Conception to Age Two Period'.  This is the brainchild of my colleague Andrea Leadsom MP, the Conservative Member of Parliament for South Northamptonshire.  Andrea and her team have been doing great work compiling this manifesto, which highlights the crucial importance of the early years to the rest of a child's life. By the 1001st day, the brain has reached 80 per cent of its adult weight, making this period vital for healthy development and for ensuring that babies achieve the best start in life. From birth to age eighteen months, connections in the brain are created at a rate of one million per second.  It is during this period that a baby's social and emotional development in later life is shaped by the quality of their attachment to their parents and carers.   This much is clear.  But as is so often the case, policymakers have lagged behind, slow to change their policies to account for new scientific insights.  Despite spending hundreds of billions of pounds in the last fifteen years in the battle against poverty, we have done tragically little to secure every child the healthy start in life that they deserve.  One in every four babies born in the UK has a parent affected by domestic violence, mental health or drug and alcohol problems.   So what's different about this manifesto?  As well as Andrea Leadsom, it has also been written by Labour MP Frank Field, by Liberal Democrat former Health Minister Paul Burstow MP and by the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.  What this shows is of enormous importance: for the first time, political parties are coming together to form a consensus on how governments must transform their approach to early years policy.  Representatives of all parties are now united in calling for essential services and assistance to be provided to all at-risk families and those experiencing difficulties.   We are beginning to respond to what is now beyond doubt: that fighting long term poverty requires more than just transferring money from one group to another through tax and benefits.  We also need much better services, targeted at those who actually need them.  We need this debate to rise above party politics, so that the best policies are implemented by whichever party is in power.  To those of us who are committed to promoting the importance of early years policy, it is encouraging that we are making real progress.     Ben in the Pub On Wednesday 18th I will be holding one of my regular Ben in the Pub evenings.  Join me for a drink at the Royal George on Colchester Road between 7 and 9 pm if you have any questions or concerns you would like to put to me.

Politics, The Games People Play and why I am proud of Ben Gummer

Every aspect of our lives has some political connection, be it rules and regulations or just the fact that funding seems to be the governor of all things.

It is obvious that when it comes to local and national politics, different parties will have a go at the others whether they are justified or not.

This week, in Ipswich, we saw some treachery at work and I suppose this is one of my biggest personal dislikes in this 'other' world I find myself in.

It is important to me in my political world to have honesty, authenticity and a desire to help my residents. I am not sure many people understand this because all they see are negative stories and media agendas on councillors and MPs alike. In Ipswich, conservatives have a worse deal with local papers and journalists who tend to be more Left leaning. Thank goodness for blogs.

I have always stated that there are good and bad councillors in all parties and that some Labour councillors have my utmost respect, even fondness. I want them to be happy, effective local champions who do good for the people in this town.

This week, I have witnessed one of our own activists who decided that writing a controversial blog was more important than loyalty, proving that he is not fit to be a councillor or a candidate. Whether people like it or not we have to stand together as a party. This person was an activist and does not really know what is going on behind the scenes. Any decisions we make are for the group only and just a part of that is released to our activists, although leaks do happen sometimes.

All of us will tell you that we need to stick together in order to bring about changes. However, when you are in opposition, there is still no real influence in council - but what we must do is bring accountability to those in power.

This is where I consider Tory behaviour to be different from Labour's, who tend to disagree with anything we might decide, do or believe in, just for the sake of it, whereas we offer occasions where we agree on a particular stance (especially if it's in our manifesto's) and other times when we are allowed a free vote. This does not make us 'shambolic' - it means we are more authentic. So I refute Ipswich Spy's comment that at council, when we voted differently in a council motion, that this was tantamount to being 'a shambles'. Far from it - especially as the motion, brought by Labour to make themselves look clever, is as ineffective as before the motion.

There has also been some talk about Councillor Stewart's effectiveness as a leader and I want to say something about that. In fact I wanted to support him before this, but held back in order to avoid stoking the fires of untruths.

You may know that we were up against each other for the position of group leader and that I refused deputy leadership (this was because I knew we would work in completely different ways and it would've been draining for both of us!)

I am a big picture person that gets straight into the action, makes quick decisions and is bold in my words and my deeds. I do not need to be liked and nor do I lack the confidence needed to do a good job.
Chris is more measured, enjoys fine detail and takes a cautious approach. This method needs more time before it can show itself to be effective.

Now whether the decision was right or wrong is irrelevant and Chris has my total loyalty, support and expertise right behind him. The group is working together to help him find his way and this includes being patient while he works out a solid way forward.

So to conclude on this, what might look like pear-shape from the outside, is actually a nice apple in the ripening, on the inside.

And for those who are not loyal to the people in our family, then they have the right to leave and join a void that is totally useless against the real enemy of our country - Socialism.

Last but not least is our shining star - Ben Gummer MP. Again Ipswich Spy are not looking at this in a logical way or from the eyes of Ipswich people. All those that meet Ben say the same thing 'I am so impressed' and I know that Ipswich people will vote for the best MP they have had for decades.

Ben works hard for Ipswich, is articulate, charming and has a great sense of humour. He can relate to anyone, at any level and is honest and tactful. I am so proud when I canvass with him by my side.

I held a 'Ben' house meeting this week, where Stoke Park residents could ask him anything they wanted, over wine and food. Every one of them concluded that he was knowledgeable, authentic and impressive.

If you get the chance to meet Ben at one of his house meetings or monthly Ben in the Pub events, then go see for yourself and tell me if you don't agree. Of course staunch Labourites are exempted from this challenge!

Have a great week...

Snippets from Ipswich Conservatives and lessons from Andy Murray

It's been over a week since I last blogged - it's been a very busy time, not just in politics but in my work too.

So I thought I would do some snippets of information to capture what we've been up to as a group.

Talking to residents is always a priority for me and I have been with Ben Gummer and other colleagues in Stoke Park and Sprites Wards to listen to their concerns. One of my main questions is 'How do you think Ben is doing?'

The answers are resoundingly positive, although I won't pretend that every single person is appreciative but on the whole the feedback has been excellent, with the main theme being 'He cares about Ipswich'.

They couldn't be more right. Ben puts our interests first and works as hard as he can to put us on the map and help individual residents.

Meet Ben yourself as there are various ways he is accessible.

Ben's blog is also very interesting if you want to catch up with latest news, locally and centrally.


One of the most recent meetings that Ben set up was with Justine Greening and the Bangladeshi community leaders. This was held at UCS at the Waterfront Ipswich and was a good hour long chat where Justine certainly left a brilliant impression with everyone. She was genuine, eloquent, savvy and delightful and took away some good ideas about bringing the cultures together as well as providing information about what is going on back at Westminster and globally.

As well as working closely with Ben, I have been busy with the petition to save bus route 16 and thanks to the residents this was a complete success and our valuable route will proceed with the current timetable - I will be reviewing in a few months time to ensure this continues.

I have been helping several residents with their benefits, council tax rebates and Job seekers allowance and find this the most rewarding of all because it can actually change lives for the better. One couple even walked round with a bunch of flowers for me to say a huge thankyou. Totally unnecessary but I appreciated it and it's good to be valued in this way, for a change!

I've attended several licensing sub committees and I've been left very proud of how our local police handle some problem areas such as street drinking, under-age sales and working with the licensing trade in general. We have led the way with new projects to make our streets safer and our licensing trades more responsible. Our best practice is being sought after in other parts of the country where we can show that partnership working is a winning formula.


Lastly, I allowed myself a complete day off on Sunday, enjoying the sun and watching a brilliant performance by Andy Murray. His attitude and peak mental as well as physical display is a lesson to everyone.

Have your dream
Love what you do
Work Hard
Have the right people around you
Learn from your mistakes
Give something back along the journey

I'm doing my best to have a Tory majority government in 2015 and have the ingredients above to play my part. Ipswich Conservatives are working hard to bring you the best local candidates and we are always looking for helpers.

If you would like to help either Ben or myself then please feel free to contact me via e-mail, twitter (@stokeparkcllr) or phone

Details of our team are here

Saving Our Bus Route no 16 by Ipswich Buses - Petition

Residents started to call me at the beginning of the week to enquire about the stopping of bus 16, a route that picks up many of our most vulnerable and aged.

I knew nothing about this and didn't believe it at first so I called Ipswich Buses myself where it was confirmed that it would indeed be ceased sometime in July, as an estimate.

I was incensed to learn it was for financially reasons as I know other routes are less popular but it is because most of the users are old aged pensioners and so the income on this service is challenging.

The first question I have to ask is why Councillor Smart, Transport portfolio holder, or his colleagues, some of whom are on the board at Ipswich Buses, did not think to send out a letter to residents, or to me for that matter to keep me advised?

I have started up a petition to ensure that no private company takes over this route - as we know what will happen to the service if they do - and to ask Ipswich Buses to change their mind & work with Ipswich Borough Council to find the funds.

Labour councillors are now upset that I have sent out a leaflet to the residents on the relevant route in Stoke Park, because they say they are sorting it out. however I would like to point some things out to them.

1) the petition is for IB to keep the route, no other solution will do
2) to ensure that IBC consider funding the route for IB, NOT a private company
3) It is my duty, especially as I am the only Tory councillor in the SW Ipswich, to hold the Labour group/the administration to account and that is what I am doing.

The residents are queueing up at my door, telephone and my e-mail. Most of them have checked for themselves with IB and have been advised that the cessation is going ahead.

THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

Some of the residents have not been into town for ages because the route has been suspended due to roadworks. Some can just about make it to the bus-stop but will not be able to walk the distance to an alternative stop in Fountains road, although this will be an option for younger people.

Our old should be the most valued in our society and whether it's from face to face chatter or my leaflet, it has upset a few of them - but they deserve to know what's going on and if Labour had cared about it enough  in the first place, they would have already done that job for me.

If you use this bus to come to Stoke Park and have not had the petition leaflet through your door then please feel free to contact me below with your comments.

Full Council Meeting and Thorington Windfarm

Once again, the administration received questions from the public on why they refuse to nail their colours to the mast and/or do something about the majority concern over the proposed turbines at Thorington, overlooking SW Ipswich.

The leader of the council et al chose to repeat like parrots - 'the contract, which was signed by the previous administration' in other words 'it has nothing to do with us'.

Then up pops Sally Wainman, a real campaigner who challenges any party in administration and has the town in her heart, who wasn't going to let him off so lightly.

She challenged Cllr Ellesmere in a supplementary question, asking him when he was going to stop blaming everyone else and take responsibility for the wishes of the residents in SW Ipswich. Labour are in administration so what was he going to do?

Nothing is the answer.

Nothing of any consequence.

Yes, it wasn't his administration that signed the options contract. Yes, it would be hard for IBC as a council to make a stand against PfR, in fact it would be illegal. However there is nothing legally stopping any of the numerous labour councillors in SW (I am the only Tory) as individuals, in showing they truly represent their people by joining me and SIT in bringing evidence to Babergh that will show lives will be blighted.

I am the only councillor to be doing this. I have learnt much from SIT and Kessingland. This is not what I want for my residents and those in my street because it's not what they want - 92%. So I am choosing to fight hard by collecting evidence along with Ben Gummer, distributing information and attending all relevant meetings.

If other labour councillors did the same, we might get somewhere.

When asked if any labour councillors attended the latest consultation, the leader stated that they all knew the facts by now. Not true. The proposals have been changed and it was useful for me at least to see them, discuss them with PfR and have further conversations with the many residents who attended. Isn't that our job for goodness sake?!

So they do have another get out clause. If Babergh agree at their planning meeting for this to go ahead, we can expect to start hearing them blame Babergh sometime this year. In fact I can already hear it.....

Ben Gummer MP - Business in suffolk

Business is a priority for me. for this town. I know only too well how hard the last few years have been running a small business, as I have done exactly that for the last 8 years..

I have said before that until red tape is reduced and things made a bit easier for employers, I will never have any staff but choose to use 3rd party virtual assistants and experts if the need for extra resource arises. This means that others benefit from my business as I do from others. Its important that we remain optimistic for the future, as it's not all bad news for this area.

Ben's latest column shows that he is on the ball on this one and also sees it as a priority. I show it here in full:

Business in Suffolk

Back in November I addressed the new Ipswich Chamber of Commerce, which I launched with the Exchequer Secretary David Gauke (a former pupil of Northgate, as it happens) back in 2011.  It is clear that while business people are marginally more hopeful than a year or two ago, there is still much trepidation about the future - in UK but especially in Ipswich.

My impression then was that 2012 was a year of treading water for so many businesses, something borne out by a Barclays survey of their small business customers back in the late summer.  They found that activity had dropped very slightly, although Suffolk had done less badly than Norfolk and - surprisingly - Cambridgeshire.  A great deal of the decline was down to a significant reduction in agricultural revenues, a result of the poor weather and the pressure on food manufacturers at a time when most households are trimming their budgets.

The good news is that new companies in the east of England are achieving the fastest growth of any region other than the south-east, which is only just ahead; both are significantly in excess of the national average.  So we are producing good companies that are growing quickly, which is an encouraging sign for the future.

The trick now is to get some of that dynamism into our town, which was the central concern of the business people I spoke to in November.  As the Borough Council has identified, we have some of the lowest average weekly wages in the country here in Ipswich, a result not of benefit cuts or anything to do with the government but because we do not have enough better paid, high-skilled jobs in the town.  That is something we must all work together to put right.  It will take longer than a year but we must re-make a start in these first few days of the 2013.

Contact Information

phone: 0845 634 9197
email: ben@bengummer.com

Ipswich Labour Administration do not do Business

By Ben Gummer This is an article written by Ben Gummer MP in its entirety for the local paper 'It is a privilege to have this space to write in every week, one that I try not to debase by filling column inches with regular political rants. But a meeting on Tuesday made me so angry that I am going to suspend my self-imposed armistice this week. The road outside my office in Fore Street has been a building site since March. For many weeks no motor traffic has been able to pass and the pavements have been hemmed in with ugly steel railings. It is either noisy with pneumatic drills and diggers to the point where a telephone conversation becomes impossible, even with the doors and windows shut, or almost silent for want of passers-by, buses and cars. Fore Street stinks of bitumen freshly poured and rubbish uncollected. The result has been a devastating fall-off in trade for local businesses. Although parliament is sitting, I left London at six on Tuesday morning to meet my neighbours at a quarter past eight: what they had to say left me stunned. All have seen a massive collapse in sales, some as bad as 90%. Who has done this? Well, National Grid is responsible for all the works. They are replacing ancient gas mains and no one blames them for doing that. But to take six months - SIX MONTHS - and to be nowhere near finishing: that is a disgrace. But Ipswich Borough Council is also to blame, big time. It is they that licence the possession of the road by National Grid, they that influence the signs the company must use. Now, the signs tell you all you need to know about the Borough's approach to local businesses. The ones placed at the junction of Fore Street and Star Lane suggest that the whole road is closed, which it is not, and point to a diversion that does not exist. Having prevented what little traffic from reaching Fore Street shops, they are now taking the owners to court to recover business rates that they can no longer afford. One shop owner who is charged £7,500 a year in rates took only £300 in total last week. You can do the maths; clearly Ipswich Borough Council cannot. Another shop owner asked why the council, which was supposed to serve the town, was helping to drive their businesses into the ground. Quite. I'll tell you one reason why. It is not that the council hates business: it is because they do not understand it. Put a balance sheet or profit and loss statement in front of most of the governing party and they would struggle to hold it the right way up. It's not surprising really: few Labour councillors have worked in small business; almost none have run their own company or shop. They think business is all big city banks and multinationals; they do not understand that most businesses are very small, nor that for the majority of small business owners the biggest worry is not about bonuses but whether they can pay their employees' salaries at the end of the month; and they forget that most small business employees earn not very much. These people need support: they are the ones that provide jobs and growth. So what should have the council have done? At the very least they could have arranged a rates payment holiday, rather than issuing a summons to court. Perhaps most useful of all would be some work experience for some councillors in these Fore Street shops. They would then know how hard it was running a small business. As it stands, I'd not trust them with a whelk stall, let alone the government and growth of our town.'

Contact Information phone: 0845 634 9197 email: ben@bengummer.com

Staying up (late) for a Private Member's Bill

Staying up for a Private Member's Bill by Ben Gummer

If nothing else, the job of your MP is to vote on legislation on your behalf. That is what representative democracy is all about. Almost everything we do is focused on public bills - voting on the legislation that the government wants to see enacted.

But there is also a special kind of proposed law called a private member's bill - a piece of possible legislation put forward by an individual backbench MP. These ideas are discussed every Friday when parliament is sitting, which is the day when almost all MPs have returned to their constituencies. So there are not many people around when they are debated in the chamber of the House.

That does not mean that they are not important. Some very big legislation - like the 1967 Abortion Act - started life as a private member's bill. Many of them are of pretty niche but nonetheless significant interest - often 'tidying-up' ideas that the government wants to see happen but does not want to expend precious time debating elsewhere in the week. So for instance, my neighbour, Thérèse Coffey, had a bill passed last year concerning who pays for the salvage of shipwrecks, whilst my predecessor, Chris Mole, got changes made to the law on collecting by the British Library to ensure that they captured internet records as well as journals and books.

As there is only limited time, you cannot just propose a law and hope to have it debated. You have to win a place in a ballot held at the beginning of each session. Failing that, there is one other way, however, to get space on a Friday to have a bill debated: to put your name down on a given day. Demand for this is normally quite high, so people queue. Not for twenty minutes but for a day - a full 24 hours. It is, if you like, a test of endurance to see how badly you want your bill put before the House.

My idea was one I've wanted to see happen for some time: a cap on the debt that a government can run up, hopefully making sure we can never get into this mess again. Having failed in the draw, I knew I had to queue. I found out the day I had to present my proposal and the day before made my way to the corridor, in a distant upper corridor of the Houses of Parliament, where the clerks work who organize these things. On arriving at the clerk's office, I was shown a book-lined room, with a table and enough space for a couple of sleeping bags on the floor. There I made camp: lunch, laptop and a good supply of chocolate bars.

Soon I was joined by some fellow queuers: Charlie Ephicke, who wants to make the Port of Dover in his constituency the property of the local community; Thomas Docherty, a very nice Labour MP who had a whole series of bills on water and energy charges; Matt Hancock - my near-neighbour in Suffolk - whose bill was on horse racing; and Caroline Lucas, parliament's only Green MP.

For twelve or so hours it was all good fun: we chatted and gossiped and got some work done. But past midnight we'd had enough and came to a gentlemanly agreement to take turns saving each others' spaces. So I was able to turn in until the morning, returning in time to present my bill - as first in the queue - to the clerk at ten AM. The result is that yours truly has will be presenting his proposed law on 9th November.