I've just voted to lift 450,000 children out of poverty, including more than 3,000 children in Ipswich. That's the difference a Labour Government makes.

Let's remember the sacrifices of the wartime generation today, and celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, while remembering that for many in East Anglia who served in the Far East, that WW2 continued for three more months.

Those same people have blocked the delivery of the only credible alternative on the table. Ipswich, Felixstowe and Suffolk as a whole, has continued to suffer as a result of short-term political expediency being put ahead of the long-term interests of our town and our county.

However, while the works are unavoidable, the problem which keeps on repeating itself is not. This is the result of years of indecision, and the blame for this damaging situation lies squarely at the feet of those who have repeatedly advocated for a ‘do nothing’ approach.

The repairs to an ageing Orwell Bridge are necessary and unavoidable, and the proposals represent the least worst option available. Nonetheless, they will cause huge disruption for residents and businesses in and around Ipswich, and I know how frustrated and worried people are.

We need a common-sense approach, and all responsible stakeholders must do everything in their power to shield local residents and businesses from the very worst consequences of the works, otherwise Ipswich and the surrounding area will face a summer of chaos.

This morning, I met with Cadent to ask them to review their plans, including their work on Woodbridge Road. I have also urged National Highways to make the full details of their works to the Orwell Bridge public, effective immediately, so residents and businesses can plan ahead.

I have written to Suffolk County Council to ensure they postpone all non-emergency works in Ipswich during the repairs to the Orwell Bridge. This includes the planned schemes on Nacton Road, Woodbridge Road and the Hospital to Waterfront route.

Huge congratulations Ipswich Town F.C. Women! Promoted - as Champions - to the Barclays Women's Championship for the first time in history.

Delighted to welcome Adele to Suffolk County Council from @ipswichlabour.bsky.social - together we can fight for a council that meets the needs of Ipswich people and doesn’t just treat our major town as an inconvenient appendage to the rural Tory areas.

Suffolk County Council St John's division residents, remember to vote for Adele Cook in today's SCC byelection. Polls open until 10pm.

Vote Adele Cook @ipswichlabour.bsky.social @coopparty.party.coop today for #Suffolk CC St John’s by-election #VoteLabour #Ipswich Adele will be in your corner, working for you.

4️⃣ days to go! On Wednesday, members of the Co-operative Group will start to vote ahead of their AGM. By voting YES on Motion 8, we can give co-operation the political voice it deserves.

The difference a Labour government makes. By recruiting 1,500 GPs - including nearly 30 for our local area - we're fixing the front door to our NHS and ending the 8am scramble. There is more work ahead, but our NHS is on the road to recovery. My East Anglian Daily Times / Ipswich Star column 👇

Holi in Alexandra Park today has been favoured by glorious sunshine.

More conversations with St John's residents on a sunny Sunday.

Another sunny morning speaking to voters in St John's division.

3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣✚ We're standing Co-operative candidates in every council election in the country. There's already over 1,500 Co-operative councillors putting their communities first under our joint banner with Labour.

Enjoying the sunshine? 🌞 Community solar, backed by GB Energy and the Local Power Plan, puts energy power directly in YOUR community's hands. Read more from our Policy Officer Daniel Monaghan.

Thanks to this morning's campaigners, and of course, to everyone who talked to us when we visited them this morning.

🌱 Read more here: www.independent.co.uk/business/gb-...

People back net zero when it delivers real benefits. Community energy means a real stake in local energy and money flowing back into vital services. Today's investment news proves what we've always known: net zero succeeds when communities lead the way.

Laurence and John aren't able to join Adele Cook and the Labour & Co-operative team tomorrow, so they went out today instead.

Another great team out this week, supporting Adele Cook for St John's division. Temperature about 10 degrees lower than last Saturday. Plenty of great conversations!

🚨 UPDATE: We're standing over 300 candidates at this year's Local Elections. In the last week we've added new candidates excited to represent co-operation at the local level. There's still time if you're considering applying. Apply to our Candidate Development Programme today.

Labour is delivering for working people in Ipswich. A huge boost to the minimum wage, and better rights on sick pay and banning exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire. Change has begun!

I'm delighted Stone Lodge Academy has been selected as one of the first schools to benefit from Labour’s free breakfast clubs, with 15 coming to Suffolk overall. I recently visited the school and know it'll make a real difference, boosting parent’s work choices and children’s life chances.

Out in Rushmere St Andrew today with our wonderful East Suffolk candidate, Laurence Bradley together with reinforcements from Lowestoft Labour Party. If you missed this morning's session, there is another at 1.30pm.

🦷 15,500 desperately needed dental appointments for our area, delivering on the promise we made. Combined with the important work being undertaken at the University of Suffolk Dental CIC, I hope we will soon be able to put an end to our county’s dental desert.

We will put an end to Suffolk's diabolical dental desert. I am proud that Ipswich is leading the way, with the University of Suffolk Dental CIC training the next generation of dentists alongside delivering high-quality NHS dental care. My East Anglian Daily Times / Ipswich Star column 👇

We have something special simmering away in Ipswich, with our arts and culture scene being transformed in the 25 years since I moved to Suffolk. City of Culture status would boost our town not just culturally, but socially and economically too. My latest EADT / Ipswich Star column 👇

It was great to visit Gusford to see the opportunities on offer through @bikeabilityuk.bsky.social - I'd encourage other schools to take up the scheme too! Thank you to @simonlightwood.org.uk for coming to Ipswich to see how the Government is making a real difference to our town.

This weekend we were out in South East Ipswich, speaking and listening to residents.

Following his promise to drive economic growth by delivering much-needed infrastructure across the country, I have written to the Prime Minister, urging him support an Ipswich Northern Bypass. While we suffer the brunt of the impact here locally, this is a project of national importance.

The Northern Bypass is a project of local, regional, and national significance. It is a project on which the long-term future of our town and county hinges. We must act or we will all pay a worsening price for years to come. My East Anglian Daily Times / Ipswich Star column 👇

Great to meet Heidi Alexander and Lilian Greenwood on #NationalPotholeDay. I thanked them for the record investment that is heading to Suffolk to fix our potholes. Our county is set to receive £44 million to tackle potholes next year - a massive £11.7 million in new funding.

For too long, social care has been treated as a Cinderella service. We've got to do things differently. We've got to finally deliver the change that has been promised for so long without ever materialising. Last week's East Anglian Daily Times / Ipswich Star column 👇

I was pleased to welcome the Police Minister, Diana Johnson, to Ipswich yesterday. One of my priorities as an MP is to help revive our town centre and I know people, rightly, want retail crime and anti-social behaviour tackled as part of that change.

We're so lucky to have a thriving arts and culture scene here in Ipswich. I'm delighted to see the Government recognise the incredible work happening in our town. The creative arts are crucial to a child’s education and must be accessible to everyone.

This is a historic day, a proud, unifying, and celebratory moment for everyone in our great town. St Mary le Tower has stood at the heart of Ipswich for 1,000 years, and its redesignation as a Minster starts a wonderful new chapter in our story.

Great to be out talking to residents across south west Ipswich this morning. There was lots of conversation about the new pothole funding provided by the Government - a boost worth nearly £12 million. It's time for Suffolk County Council to finally fix our broken roads!

This evening, I'll be voting for the Children & Wellbeing Bill which will: 🍎 Deliver free breakfast clubs in primary schools 👕 Cap the number of branded school uniform items 📈 Drive up school standards 🚨 Bring forward the biggest child protection reforms in a generation

Ipswich will receive more than £200,000 in additional funding - and Suffolk over £1 million - to help disabled and elderly residents make improvements to their homes. This new funding will help support people to live at home with dignity, independence, and a good quality of life.

🎆 Onwards in co-operation - Happy New Year! 🥳

This is the difference co-operation in government can achieve. Our General Secretary explains how the new Community Right to Buy will put power directly into the hands of communities.

I was recently elected as the Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Departmental Group, and last week, my colleagues and I met the Prime Minister to talk about our roles. Our job is to help oversee the relationships between MPs and the relevant departments and ministers.

With Ipswich Labour the campaign never stops. Our team were out talking with voters in the Sidegate Lane area of Rushmere today.

Last week, Ed Sheeran played a once-in-a-lifetime gig for hundreds of Ipswich schoolchildren at the Baths. Those kids will have been inspired to reach that stage. We must provide them with the pathway to do so. My EADT / @ipswichstar.bsky.social column 👇

👋 Black Friday’s all about savings, but how about sharing instead? We don’t just talk co-operation, we practice it. We’re owned by our members, who have a real say and stake in what we do. ✨ Become a member and co-owner of a political party today. buff.ly/2z2air6

Perhaps I should be thankful to have witnessed Suffolk County Council's road repairs at all. However I can't help but feel this perfectly encapsulates their approach to Ipswich's roads. 'What does it look like? It's Ipswich - who cares.'