'It's Ipswich's time isn't it?'

'It's got a lot going for it.'

'It deserves it.'

Grateful for the kind words of David Whiteley and Becky Jago on @itvanglia.bsky.social as we crank up Ipswich's culture bid.

Great to be joined by some of our town's best creatives in Lily Hammond and Amy Wragg too!

Co-operatives have a long and rich history in Ipswich and the East of England.

They are rooted in their communities, keep wealth local, invest for the long-term and give people a genuine stake in their success.

Pride in Place seeks to builds on these values by putting power back into local hands.

'Culture. What culture?'

Well...

Award-winning parks, stunning waterfront, our iconic football club.

New Wolsey Theatre, Danceeast, Red Rose Chain, Eastern Angles.

Ipswich Museum, the Regent, Christchurch Mansion.

Brighten the Corners, SPILL, Ipswich Book Festival, Ipswich Music Day...

I fired the starting gun on Ipswich's culture bid today because I am ambitious for our town.

Speaking to Wayne Bavin on BBC Radio Suffolk, I said this celebration of Ipswich's talent will attract people to our town, who will then spend money in our shops, restaurants and pubs, boosting our economy.

I'm intent on delivering good jobs for Ipswich and Suffolk, and I want our young people to fill them.

That means we must provide the training and skills they need to get there.

From creating new Technical Colleges to reforming apprenticeships, we'll do just that.

#PoliticsLive

After years of brutal Conservative cuts to children's centres, this Labour Government is investing in the futures of children and families.

I spoke to BBC Suffolk about the funding our county has received to open a Best Start Family Hub, so we can start to rebuild this life-changing service.

I'm absolutely delighted that new Government funding will mean that Christchurch Mansion - the iconic building at the heart of our town - can return to full open hours.

Supporting our museums is not just about preserving our past, it is about investing in our future too.

Today Greater Anglia has transferred into public ownership and the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, visited East Anglia to mark this new chapter.

Our Government wants passengers to be at the heart of our railways again, saving taxpayers millions of pounds in fees, and ensuring value for money.

The SEND system is absolutely broken.

Families are forced into exhausting and expensive tribunals, a process that feels combative and secretive, when councils should be supporting them from the very start.

No parent should have to fight like this. That is why we need reform.