13th November - Jack Abbott welcomes Ipswich SME business owner to Chancellor’s Reception at 11 Downing Street

Earlier this week, Mark Hubert - owner of James St Peter's, an Ipswich Central board member, and the founder of the Ipswich Independents Group - and I attended a reception for SMEs held by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, in Number 11 Downing Street.

The revival of Ipswich's town centre is a priority for me, and I have been working relentlessly to boost jobs, investment and footfall, from securing a jobs guarantee from Sizewell C to leading the charge on a UK City of Culture bid which will attract thousands of people to our town.

SMEs, particularly our locally-owned independents, must be at the heart of our new future. That is what people want to see - businesses employing local people, supporting local suppliers and rooted in our town.

That is why I was delighted to visit Downing Street with one of Ipswich's most distinguished retailers and a crucial part of our business community, so he could talk directly to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget about the things business like his needed to thrive.