4th July- Jack Abbott Reflects on a Year as an MP

I have had the honour of being the Member of Parliament for a year now.

While there remains a lot of work ahead, we can be proud of the progress we have made in that time.

Here are just some of the things I have been able to deliver alongside our Labour Government, and with partners here in Ipswich and Suffolk:

OUR NHS BACK ON ITS FEET: Cutting waiting lists to their lowest level in two years;

4.2 million more appointments across the country; 15,500 urgent dental appointments for our area, helping end Suffolk’s dental desert with the University of Suffolk Dental CIC; half a million pounds more for local hospices; thousands more GPs and mental health workers across the country, bricks and mortar upgrades for Ipswich Hospital and five GP surgeries; all backed up by our Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and a £29 billion funding boost.

ADDRESSING EDUCATION INEQUALITIES: 6,500 more children in Ipswich will receive a Free Schools Meal, Stone Lodge Academy is hosting one of the first new Breakfast Clubs being rolled out across the country; £10 million for new SEND places in Suffolk; Ipswich is one of just 10 areas to receive a share of £15 million to boost attendance in schools; limited the number of branded uniform items to save families money; expanded free childcare; legislated for crucial new child protection measures.

SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOMES: Secured millions of pounds to tackle the Building Safety Crisis in Ipswich; introducing new rights for renters and ending ‘no fault’ evictions; a Government grant to tackle homelessness in our town; building 300,000 new social and affordable homes across the country through our £39 billion programme; moves to shift away from the feudal leasehold system to commonhold; helping disabled and elderly residents in Ipswich make improvements to their homes through £1.7 million funding.

 PRIDE IN OUR TOWN: working alongside Ipswich Borough Council to bring our shops back into use; fighting to bring in investment for projects like the Portman Road redevelopment; championing our arts and culture sector and supporting events which showcase the best of our town; receiving Government support for local organisations and charities, including the Ipswich Windrush Society.

TACKLING THE COST OF LIVING: A 6.7% pay rise for thousands of people in Ipswich through the National Living Wage increase; the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation; a pay review body for social care workers; an expansion to the Warm Homes Discount meaning more households will get £150 off their energy bills; protecting the triple lock so pensioners will receive up to an additional £470 in their State Pension this year.

 JOBS AND INVESTMENT: I signed an agreement with Sizewell C which will deliver at least 500 skilled, secure, well paid jobs for people in Ipswich; invests in Suffolk New College’s courses; host two jobs fairs a year; and ensures local businesses can access the billions on offer through the supply chain. Following this, the Prime Minister came to Ipswich to give the green light to the project which will provide life-changing opportunities to people in Ipswich and Suffolk.

 SECURING OUR FUTURE: VALOUR will mean veterans have better access to essential care and support; increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, the biggest sustained increase since the Cold War; Border Security Command launched; British Steel protected; trade deals with the EU, USA, and India; published our Industrial Strategy; £600 million worth of investment to train up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers.

 PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT: Banned bonuses for polluting water bosses; through GB Energy, we are installing solar panels on public buildings, including here in Ipswich; more than £2 million given to Ipswich to improve and secure our flood defences; lifted the ban on onshore wind; community energy through the Local Power Plan; our Government’s £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan to save people money on their bills, complementing Ipswich Borough Council’s work in retrofitting their housing.

 TAKING BACK OUR STREETS: A multi-million-pound boost for Suffolk Police; a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee so that every area will have named, contactable policing teams; Suffolk County Council’s pothole funding increased to £44 million; tough new sanctions for fly-tippers who blight our town; tackling retail crime with a new offence of violence against shop workers and scrapping £200 shoplifting threshold; ninja swords outlawed.

 STANDING UP FOR PEOPLE IN IPSWICH: since my election I have consistently raised the issues that are impacting people across our town in Westminster. My hard-working team and I have sent over 12,000 emails to constituents, and helped resolve nearly 6,000 cases. We have held dozens of advice surgeries and public engagement events, and I visit businesses, schools, charities, organisations and local people every week.

It is a wonderful privilege to be the Member of Parliament for Ipswich. We are a great town, and I will keep working hard with all of you to build an even greater one.