There is no doubt in my mind Ipswich Labour are holding the Town back. If you want a prime example of how this is so you need to look no further than the Town Deal.

We were able to win £25 million investment from the Government for 11 projects across the Town. This was despite Ipswich Labour attacking the fund as something that would never happen and an “election bribe”.

Since being allocated the full £25 million by the Government, the woeful performance of Ipswich Borough Council has put various projects at risk. The Government have been deeply critical of Ipswich Borough Council and how slow they’ve been in providing key technical detail regarding the projects. With regards to the Town Deal, they’ve been branded the worst performing council in the region by some. There is a real risk that Ipswich could miss out on much needed investment as a result.

Either it’s incompetence or they’re putting politics before what is best for Ipswich. Labour led Ipswich Borough Council have significant responsibilities when it comes to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly in our Town centre.

Despite the Government providing some extra funding can we honestly say the council’s approach has been anything other than completely ineffective? They will not support me in calling for a zero tolerance approach to tackling anti-social behaviour that would involve moving on the groups of men that blight our Town centre and pursuing a much more robust approach to policing.

The sad truth is that under the watch of the local Labour Borough Council thousands of Ipswich residents don’t feel comfortable coming into the Town centre. This is not “talking down the Town”, this is representing the views of the thousands of constituents who have approached me directly expressing concerns.

Tom Hunt

Member of Parliament for Ipswich