tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76302254807130065892024-03-08T22:08:50.753+00:00Alasdair Ross - local councillorIn this blog I will be giving my political opinions on both issues at home and abroad.
I will also focus on the issues that affect the people of Ipswich and in particular those who live in Rushmere Ward.
I will also try and give an insight to how I will be campaigning in Rushmere and Ipswich as we fight against the savage cuts imposed by this Tory GovernmentAlasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.comBlogger825125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-70816500309811115012024-03-08T22:08:00.000+00:002024-03-08T22:08:10.533+00:00Cutting out the truth<p>Slightly shocked this week to find a Tory leaflet arrive through my letterbox, normally we are lucky to even get one just before an election but to receive a leaflet in early March is a real shock.</p><p>What was less shocking was that the leaflet had very little to do with the truth. The main story (fiction?) was focussed on the reasons why the Tory County Council are now cutting our verges in Ipswich. Debbie Richards, our Tory candidate, decided to tell Rushmere residents that the Tories were now mowing our verges after we had refused because our a 'black hole' in our finances.</p><p>Our Tory candidate, Debbie Richards forgets to mention a number of things, including that it is their statuary duty to maintain our roads and verges. The County used to pay the Borough to do it for them, but each year they reduced how many cuts they would pay for, so the Labour run Borough Council had to subsidise the service. In the end we could no longer go on like this, so we gave the County 12 months notice that we would not continue with the contract. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGpDGANjTo_6PWCN8tmCWKtPM3BIWMYmL075pv-QyfmRMrD5v61VeD3UNkH7L4inRnrkmfUl-Hah09cSgEiXQBiWZL_G4_lk-_vKd7cEo-fSpRcu34N6iAlwKE6fn1KmBggJiRNa9sniJ4-y4D3hO5zbAXUk9-sC0059_Mo5WxxDZTMCjDN0zwiS184deX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="991" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGpDGANjTo_6PWCN8tmCWKtPM3BIWMYmL075pv-QyfmRMrD5v61VeD3UNkH7L4inRnrkmfUl-Hah09cSgEiXQBiWZL_G4_lk-_vKd7cEo-fSpRcu34N6iAlwKE6fn1KmBggJiRNa9sniJ4-y4D3hO5zbAXUk9-sC0059_Mo5WxxDZTMCjDN0zwiS184deX=w397-h640" width="397" /></a></div><br />Debbie Richards also declares that the County has purchased new equipment that will do the job of weed removal better, however one of her fellow Tory County Councillors has already declared the new procedure does not work.<p></p><p>Seems Debbie Richards may be great at cutting out the truth but has little knowledge on cutting out weeds.</p><p>I am sure Rushmere residents would have been more interested to hear why she has chosen to stand in Rushmere, rather than in either of the seats she represents on the County Council?</p><p>Just think, only 13 months till our next local Tory leaflet!!</p><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-47090032211904438182024-02-07T12:31:00.104+00:002024-02-07T12:56:11.777+00:00Has he?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Homelessness is a big issue throughout the UK, and Ipswich is no different to other similar towns in having such a problem, made worse recently, by more people struggling to pay rent or mortgages and others unable to get the support for mental health issues or substance misuse.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Ipswich, helping people keep off the streets is one of our key priorities and we have been very successful in not only gaining funding from central Government but then using that funding to assist many residents to gain accommodation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not that you would know that if you have received the latest email newsletter from our Tory MP, Tom Hunt. He talks bout other local authorities sending many of their homeless people they're responsible for to Ipswich. This is not something new, it has been happening for a number of years, we even had other neighboring authorities block booking bed and breakfast accommodation, even if they did not need all the rooms at the time. The local authorities may be seen to be shirking their responsibility, but they are doing nothing illegal - only people who could stop them doing this - are the Tory Government .Mr Hunt does seem to forget to mention that none of the local authorities sending people to Ipswich are Labour run. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we assist homeless residents, we do our upmost to keep them in Ipswich, that is not always possible and if we do have to accommodate people outside Ipswich, we ensure we speak to our neighboring authorities and explain why and where these residents are being housed. It is called working in partnership!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">We currently have an old hotel in the town being used by others to accommodate those who otherwise would be without a roof over their heads, we do not use it as we do not believe it is the right place or that the accommodation is suitable, we have made sure other authorities area ware of our opinion about the location. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to Mr Hunt, we are not concerned about the situation and are doing nothing about it. Mr Hunt states: " The Labour led, Ipswich Borough Council are aware of this al and have done nothing to stop it. I have encouraged them to make their opposition clear to neighboring authorities, but they have refused to do so."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Now this is news to me</i></b> - and I am the portfolio holder responsible for housing and assisting those who are made homeless, and i have never received any correspondence from Mr Hunt- so who has he spoken to? Not that I am surprised about his comments, he often made similar claims about the Borough response to fighting crime, when he had never spoken to me once, when I was portfolio holder for Public Protection. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">So if you are fortunate/unfortunate enough to receive a weekly newsletter from Mr Hunt, I would suggest you tale what is written with a pinch of salt as it seems Mr Hunt does not always have his facts correct and would rather use his newsletter to bash the local Labour run council than give residents the true facts about the situation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">What his newsletter fails to mention is that the Tory run County Council is proposing cuts to their budget that will see Ipswich lose over 300 bedspaces, those that are used by some of our most vulnerable residents, it may be that it will be the Ipswich council tax payer who will have to pick up the bill, and some of those 300 may find themselves without a home - maybe something Mr Hunt, would wish to take up with the failing County Council rather than bashing a council, doing their best to help those who are made homeless. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-48597661884270050852023-11-11T09:03:00.000+00:002023-11-11T09:03:04.841+00:00A community remembers<p>Yesterday, I was given the privilege to speak at the unveiling of a mural to remember a Westbourne Academy pupil, and a Whitehouse Estate, Ipswich resident, who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2007</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfFhyVrw720MzVbmZ6zTAZNwVcGmdlXu9Sh8cihRYuXXqiW7jFsOE5Yc6cFEOZsNzky95l05KjrST4Zu40bZOwpN5imrsHW6w9QK_txOtvZm1Tvf-sLdMST7iid4EFUzCntYWZ1E-KW46EROQtFurHpt-GI4rC9TbPp2kGMlTs8bQUg-qayQQ7FWVRJjr/s2312/west2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1734" data-original-width="2312" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfFhyVrw720MzVbmZ6zTAZNwVcGmdlXu9Sh8cihRYuXXqiW7jFsOE5Yc6cFEOZsNzky95l05KjrST4Zu40bZOwpN5imrsHW6w9QK_txOtvZm1Tvf-sLdMST7iid4EFUzCntYWZ1E-KW46EROQtFurHpt-GI4rC9TbPp2kGMlTs8bQUg-qayQQ7FWVRJjr/w400-h300/west2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Aaron McClure will be remembered by his comrades from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, but also by his friends and family from this close knit part of Ipswich.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfPUh161fvlv8-8Y5BDWKF6feZdsQXI3V-EQ9ktTfZdhoEHXHqmzaBuausoIOkQf7c04c79GXWqerGns3QF-_QFytBkAR7gXW4y-YefZts5dmQ4yd4SPKebRgGHLVAJXTjdpSzrCWtGu38s5SAjnPmDaDgFsZW0YxsX6gNqe5cshevdGGyG0SoJy-QlmR/s680/west1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfPUh161fvlv8-8Y5BDWKF6feZdsQXI3V-EQ9ktTfZdhoEHXHqmzaBuausoIOkQf7c04c79GXWqerGns3QF-_QFytBkAR7gXW4y-YefZts5dmQ4yd4SPKebRgGHLVAJXTjdpSzrCWtGu38s5SAjnPmDaDgFsZW0YxsX6gNqe5cshevdGGyG0SoJy-QlmR/w400-h300/west1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Well done to his mother, his friends, and the school for keeping his memory alive.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzGrNAqov5el1W_Cbc2rBx3mbpqNAzfIndIyDZVSlo8IKib8o_RjcjnR002vCOEC4xrJCxVwXFDOGjkUIesAZnMWW6bk5qT3oKDO1PTDMc2V9psbz_j8dujzkasVyZjCtlbO9RCqE7z5tk3GXsycOJ705nmiZiKJHcqF-2d4xYhjA4SiAfWXBa7Z_xypd/s2312/west3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1734" data-original-width="2312" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzGrNAqov5el1W_Cbc2rBx3mbpqNAzfIndIyDZVSlo8IKib8o_RjcjnR002vCOEC4xrJCxVwXFDOGjkUIesAZnMWW6bk5qT3oKDO1PTDMc2V9psbz_j8dujzkasVyZjCtlbO9RCqE7z5tk3GXsycOJ705nmiZiKJHcqF-2d4xYhjA4SiAfWXBa7Z_xypd/w400-h300/west3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-56393413455892908822023-08-11T09:56:00.003+00:002023-08-11T09:58:02.627+00:00500th solar panel installed on council home in Ipswich<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6cEDt9_uB53oa1i3Ja899vRZLzHm58ZbXEK0eiA__3oJF5JvW1w3v-dSyJqok5D7xwdquNbkzaW3KtZU6TreDFWpTVEVettN_1xqXZze8E9662tqQuPdV5TCssOw3IqWnvu_YhdyU9J98KyLE47fNzo-8FUewOOCv7FRuQjvianW8De4d7gw4EkdXrhc/s3055/500th%20solar%20panel%20ready%20for%20install%20in%20Ipswich.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2210" data-original-width="3055" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6cEDt9_uB53oa1i3Ja899vRZLzHm58ZbXEK0eiA__3oJF5JvW1w3v-dSyJqok5D7xwdquNbkzaW3KtZU6TreDFWpTVEVettN_1xqXZze8E9662tqQuPdV5TCssOw3IqWnvu_YhdyU9J98KyLE47fNzo-8FUewOOCv7FRuQjvianW8De4d7gw4EkdXrhc/w400-h289/500th%20solar%20panel%20ready%20for%20install%20in%20Ipswich.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ipswich Borough Council has this week installed its 500<sup>th</sup> solar panel as part of its commitment to providing its residents with sustainable energy solutions.</span></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Installed on a home in Maple Close, the news demonstrates the Council’s ongoing effort to use more renewable energy in the town, using</span><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> local firms for the scaffolding and panel installation.</span></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This initiative is part of Ipswich Borough Council's dedication to combat climate change, supporting carbon neutral ambitions, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future for residents, whilst helping to reduce energy bills.</span></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By reaching the 500 milestone, this shows the great strides forward being taken by the Council, harnessing the power of renewable resources on its housing stock in Ipswich.</span></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="x_xxxxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Solar power offers numerous benefits, including decreased dependence on fossil fuels, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and cost-effective energy solutions for community benefit.</span></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-15144624045160917312023-03-28T11:20:00.003+00:002023-03-28T11:20:54.425+00:00Is it worth commenting?<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The last few weeks have seen the Tories continue to focus on immigration- or illegal immigration as they would call it, however without addressing the failings in the asylum system. Happy to promote their willingness to accept refugees from the Ukraine and Hong Kong but remaining silent on the Tory Government's failure to secure a 'safe route' for those who served alongside British troops in Afghanistan and now wish to flee the Taliban.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here in Ipswich, it seems Tom Hunt, our Tory MP could not be happier, it seems to be his favourite subject and he was quick to jump onto his Facebook page (where most critics, even if constituents are blocked). Happy to highlight his visits to refugee camps in Bangladesh but at no time willing to accept some of those in the Ipswich Novotel may be legitimate refugees. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the last week he has criticised Labour politicians by using unsubstantiated comments from others, maybe thinking he is being clever. If he can not factually back up the comment/accusation, he should not have repeated it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">He has got into needless spats about the failed right wing demo at the Novotel, I have not commented on the demonstration as I was not there as I had spent the morning talking to residents in Bixley Ward, he has also found time to be critical of Gary Lineker. Then yesterday, I became the subject of one of his Facebook rants. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I was not going to reply to his rant but in the end there are a few facts that need to be highlighted, after that he can continue his Facebook discussions/rants with those he has decided not to block.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg425OI4FcveaGHL5Z9Jv6YeYjuABfEdz_mN7J1Hb-4YCteYdRdRIY-b5aXJUh8-f-DF53mcHb9IYRybh8i4FeAE2B9p_0LpKuAlZv_ZKbXRbpIYrG-HGyp8WiNytNgMcUayG1fddzoawBaRpyby0s-dTgPnhNzxtw4otEgcGk25XwOWPWV1BxDiw87hw/s4646/wsc%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4646" data-original-width="4437" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg425OI4FcveaGHL5Z9Jv6YeYjuABfEdz_mN7J1Hb-4YCteYdRdRIY-b5aXJUh8-f-DF53mcHb9IYRybh8i4FeAE2B9p_0LpKuAlZv_ZKbXRbpIYrG-HGyp8WiNytNgMcUayG1fddzoawBaRpyby0s-dTgPnhNzxtw4otEgcGk25XwOWPWV1BxDiw87hw/w383-h400/wsc%20(2).jpeg" width="383" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Facts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Mr Hunt has highlighted his concerns about public safety in Ipswich on various social media platforms, but has not once asked to speak to the Borough Community Safety Partnership, to ask for our views or for him to highlight his concerns.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Mr Hunt has attended a Night Time Economy Visit, when we requested but it took a number of requests before he could/did attend</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">However it is one of his comments in his recent emails to residents that I need to reply to. - he has been critical about the CCTV system in Ipswich - </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Mr Hunt wrote in February:<b><i> "There also some issues with CCTV in certain areas. I've spoken about this with a number of business owners and constituents and have specific examples that i will be raising"</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Well 6 weeks later, and neither myself or the Community Safety Team at the Borough have heard from Mr Hunt - so when is he going to pass on his concerns? He claimed to residents he would!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The point is to help make Ipswich safer, we all need to work together and I think most of us understand that and do work together, the Labour run Ipswich Borough council, Tory run Suffolk County Council, the Tory Police and Crime Commissioner - all have supported our 'Safer Streets' bids and along with the Suffolk Constabulary continued to work hard for our residents, the only person who seems happy to continue to just be critical without offering any assistance, is our Tory MP.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I would not expect to agree on much with Mr Hunt - my views on the refugee system are much closer to Gary Lineker's than to his, but I do understand that many of our residents have concerns about the perceived levels of immigration. However when it comes to public protection in Ipswich, i am willing to listen to anyone, to understand their concerns and then work together to improve public safety in the town, but we are not helped, when our Tory MP would rather rant on Facebook or make statements on important issues such as CCTV reliability but not inform us of those concerns.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I would ask that if he has concerns - come and speak to the Community Safety Partnership, if he believes our CCTV system is not 'fit for purpose' - tell us, so can look to see if we need to improve our service. However, please do not just rant on Facebook for selected audience. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-12515968543478469002022-12-22T09:50:00.007+00:002023-02-02T12:26:30.234+00:00Happy Christmas 2022<p>2022, we thought the COVID crisis was over, and we could hope for better times but the war in Ukraine then a Tory Government in self destruct mode has made this a terrible year for many.</p><p><br /></p><p>But let us hope that many of us do get the chance to spend the time with friends and families over the festive period and that in 2023 we get closer to the end of this terrible Government.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje5l3tLnhLRCzSnoujAzLRpFArnisFWz_Ds9TbcB5cFUwSXWEtpWl3gwzf5tzFzcIrWXgRd2BBijPy2uK4a6ES76p8U02niCfI7INqeGNdk0wJoFRj_rZ-L4vs0XnNpcHOwtPw-WI2UM8sMWQ0fsaSF9PQmOf8AcbsOKhyEPYL2lCFUVuE0sXpMKUj8g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="814" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje5l3tLnhLRCzSnoujAzLRpFArnisFWz_Ds9TbcB5cFUwSXWEtpWl3gwzf5tzFzcIrWXgRd2BBijPy2uK4a6ES76p8U02niCfI7INqeGNdk0wJoFRj_rZ-L4vs0XnNpcHOwtPw-WI2UM8sMWQ0fsaSF9PQmOf8AcbsOKhyEPYL2lCFUVuE0sXpMKUj8g=w429-h640" width="429" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-42021800221787619342022-10-17T12:27:00.005+00:002022-10-17T12:29:04.343+00:00Do they live in the real world?We now have a Prime Minister, who has had to sack her Chancellor after just a few weeks in power, and then appoint a new Chancellor - who has scrapped nearly all her economic plans within 72 hours.<div><br /></div><div>Most of the plans he has scrapped are the same plans she won the Tory leadership election on! Must wonder why she is still sitting in Number 10.</div><div><br /></div><div>It would be funny if it was not the fact that her disastrous plans have meant millions will now be playing more for their mortgages, household bills and basic foods.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMavovVzvDKRmjImHxKcyfmDSiEVCE94MteA0Edmquu0IkBYdS7jZyy1EhE_-Bpe0eL-ZSbBTTHBrFaqNhXE9-duPV6IkqtjqJthLhZQioD7GCnygfhy-BjlkI2Kt6kMqdVsWYy7gLcYQXXkxjxYwG2gwfX26SRoZ4PjgCIiwcNy8hnkyN41_RLmkHSw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMavovVzvDKRmjImHxKcyfmDSiEVCE94MteA0Edmquu0IkBYdS7jZyy1EhE_-Bpe0eL-ZSbBTTHBrFaqNhXE9-duPV6IkqtjqJthLhZQioD7GCnygfhy-BjlkI2Kt6kMqdVsWYy7gLcYQXXkxjxYwG2gwfX26SRoZ4PjgCIiwcNy8hnkyN41_RLmkHSw=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>So what do the local Ipswich Tories think?</div><div><br /></div><div>Nadia Cenci, has gone from supporting Truss to saying she must go , another leading Tory just seems bothered that she may now lose her seat and Tom Hunt continues to tweet and post about anything other than the economy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe no surprise to go into hiding when their party is in such trouble, but then today they post an <a href="https://ipswichconservatives.wordpress.com/2022/10/15/2022-conservative-conference-reflections-by-eddy-phillips/">amazing review</a> of their recent conference on their own website - you do wonder who pressed the publish button - we know they have issues with the use of social media with one councilor expelled and another suspended for some of their previous posts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Their latest post may not be racist, or supporting Putin but it does make you wonder what parallel universe the local Tories live in, they now need to come out of hiding and start talking to residents, they may then start to understand the concerns of may of our constituents.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a sample of what their latest post states:</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i><b>"As Liz Truss so well demonstrated in her closing speech" </b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i><b>"That is the overwhelmingly positive message emanating from the entire conference."</b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">When talking about two national journalists<i> - "</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic;">Their attempts to talk down the Prime Minister’s speech failed so spectacularly by the supportive and positive crowd around them, meant that they were unable to talk above the cheering and applause and therefore those particular scenes from their intended slamming commentary could not be used. They in turn omitted to mention the exceptionally long standing ovation the PM got at the start of the speech, let alone throughout and at the end."</span></b></div><div><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div><i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">"It’s time for </span><a href="https://superbluesays.wordpress.com/2022/10/05/building-on-solid-economic-foundations/?fbclid=IwAR0FMqPAeBIWG6xBJvpuUcLL_TRT4Q57IUb5-cHrN-rnu1ZmnFmwNEE386Q" rel="noopener" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #426f86; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">growth</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"> and we do that by cutting taxes for everyone."</span></b></i></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #333a42; font-family: Noto Serif, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>"We finally have a Prime Minister and Chancellor whose laser focused aim is on destroying the anti-growth coalition"</b></span></span></i></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #333a42; font-family: Noto Serif, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Remember this was posted after Kwasi was sacked and just hours before Hunt tore up the whole Liz Truss economic plan!!</span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333a42; font-family: Noto Serif, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333a42; font-family: Noto Serif, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">We are now all going to suffer thanks to a 32 days Far Right Tory economic experiment!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333a42; font-family: Noto Serif, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333a42; font-family: Noto Serif, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Time for a Labour Government and this local Tory posts, also indicates that the local Tories do not understand (or care about?) the issues that are worrying our Ipswich residents.</span></span></span></div>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-28765630387718313952022-09-23T13:34:00.003+00:002022-09-23T13:34:59.052+00:00If you wish to play politics, maybe best to check the facts first.<p>On Wednesday, the Tory Group on Ipswich Borough Council proposed a motion asking the Council to lead on the production of a comprehensive knife crime strategy for the town.</p><p>Who could disagree with that? However the Tory Group knows as well as anyone else, that much of the power to fight knife crime lies with the Suffolk Police and the Tory run County Council. Any strategy we produced would be reliant on the Police and County doing much of the work.</p><p>They also seemed to forget or not admit that the police struggle at times to carry out their tasks due to underfunding of the service over the last 12 years of Tory Government.</p><p>That does not mean we do not need a strategy, however if the Tories had asked or just opened some of their own council papers, they would see we already have a strategy. A strategy to fight the rise of drug supply in the town, a strategy that looks to stop 'County Lines' drug operations working in the town. The Police are quite clear in both their messages to the public and to elected officials that most cases of crime involving knives are linked to this drug trade.</p><p>Our Labour run Council led on the 'County Lines' strategy and we have worked with partners to ensure it has the funding and resources to defeat the drug gangs. It works because the Tory Police and Crime Commissioner, the Tory County Council and ourselves are not 'playing' politics, but just getting on with the job - together - a job that is producing positive outcomes. </p><p>The strategy has seen a drastic reduction in the number of 'County ;Lines' operating in the town, and the police continue to crack down on those involved in the trade, so much so that in the last 12 months in Eastern Ipswich (that is the whole of the east of the town plus Felixstowe and Woodbridge - there has been a 39.5% reduction is crime involving serious violence or knives. I call that a good start and something we can work on.</p><p>The Tories accused us of playing political games, however they submitted a motion that did not stand up to the facts that they all should of been aware, two of the Tories who spoke at Council had been sent the North East Area Committee papers, that highlighted the latest statistics on crime, showing the reduction in knife use. Had they read the report?</p><p>That does not mean we can't do something to help in the fight against knife crime, it is obvious that we (and the police) need to get the message over to the public that we are cracking down on violent crime and getting good results, and it is obvious we can do more with our partners and those involved in education to get the message across to our younger residents, that carrying a knife could lead you to spending a considerable time behind bars, or even losing you own life.</p><p>So maybe if the Ipswich Tories want to bring another motion to Full Council, they should check their own facts first and maybe try and work with us rather than playing 'politics' - a type of politics that seem to come straight out of the Trump 'Playbook'. </p><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-15805756278891977262022-07-25T15:18:00.003+00:002022-07-25T15:18:42.810+00:00 Ipswich secures Safer Streets Funding to combat and prevent crime<span style="font-size: medium;">More good news for Ipswich - and this would not have happened with a Tory Council - it happened as we have great Officers and staff at Ipswich Borough Council and that in conjunction with good political leadership from Ipswich Labour, has allowed us to bid for more Government funding.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The final piece of the jigsaw, is working with partners and we had great support in securing the money from Ipswich Central, the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore and Ipswich Police. Our bid also had the backing of the County Council plus our neighboring districts. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnflNve_p0bB3t8q3HsxXvP3J65i7DTLoPQY2PU78l2lKPPp0V4W7oa1_eqQRQS-6bp9gEh1qhjs8KBjFFz-yVy9ZAJSfWsugIyPdSrlgP7Pnw3cS7vV_byr20xcU2vhQrZGJhLkVgIjmeARvFYLVyPe9IcPsUCgS6yk4cKOXGAWyZ9xo12joQU-8I5Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1120" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnflNve_p0bB3t8q3HsxXvP3J65i7DTLoPQY2PU78l2lKPPp0V4W7oa1_eqQRQS-6bp9gEh1qhjs8KBjFFz-yVy9ZAJSfWsugIyPdSrlgP7Pnw3cS7vV_byr20xcU2vhQrZGJhLkVgIjmeARvFYLVyPe9IcPsUCgS6yk4cKOXGAWyZ9xo12joQU-8I5Q=w400-h286" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ipswich secures Safer Streets Funding to combat and prevent crime</span></b></p><p aria-hidden="true" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Ipswich Borough Council is pleased it will be becoming an even safer town, with new improvements to be made in respect of the safety of women and girls and a reduction in anti-social behaviour, such as violence, theft and criminal damage.</p><p aria-hidden="true" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">£500,000 has been awarded to Ipswich Borough Council from the Home Office’s latest round of Safer Streets Fund. The Council with its partners Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, Ipswich Central and Suffolk County Council are also supplying a matched contribution of officer time and funding totalling £432,000 leading to a combined total project of £932,000.</p><p aria-hidden="true" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">These improvements will be in the town centre and Waterfront areas, including the main retail, hospitality and business districts as well as at the university area. Our consultations identified these locations as where members of the public and community groups wanted improvements.<i> </i>The focus will be on countering Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) with initiatives will target crime related to sexual assault and harassment and ASB including violence, criminal damage and theft.</p><p aria-hidden="true" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">The remedies will include smarter CCTV with improved monitoring that will lead to swifter responses but also greater coverage for the cameras. Along with better signage, lighting and landscaping these will act to deter crime and give people more confidence when traversing the town, particularly at night.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><i> </i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Safe spaces/hubs with help points will be created and the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign will be enhanced to include all town centre licenced premises and publicly accessible buildings, including libraries, retail & food outlets. Barwatch is a scheme that helps pubs and bars share information about the perpetrators about anti-social behaviour and this will be enhanced.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><i> </i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">There will be better lighting in the subway at St Matthew’s Street. Townlink radio coverage, used by retailers and others to keep in touch with the police and security, will receive new radios for new premises. Personal Safety Alarms will be given out and Body-Worn cameras for door supervisors will be distributed.</p><p aria-hidden="true" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><b>Cllr Alasdair Ross, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, says:</b></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><i> </i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><i>“This winning bid by your Council will mean we can make many improvements in Ipswich that will make people feel more confident, particularly at night, in some of our central areas. We have overseen many improvements to make Ipswich safer but we can always do more and these new anti-crime measures will make Ipswich better for all – except criminals.</i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><i> </i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><b>Tim Passmore, Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, says:</b></p><p aria-hidden="true" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><i>"I am absolutely delighted to hear we have been successful in our bid for Safer Street 4 funding.</i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><i> </i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><i>"It's really important that people feel safe in their homes, businesses and their communities, so I am pleased to see this investment in our county town, which will help reduce crime and the fear of crime.</i></p><br /></div>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-61665883473319485542022-06-28T09:37:00.000+00:002022-06-28T09:37:35.912+00:00How much longer can this man embarrass our town? <p>Ipswich Labour are currently in the process of selecting their candidate to fight the next General election in Ipswich, the short list contains 3 strong candidates- all with a strong link with the town and all proven campaigners. Alex Mayer, Elizabeth Hughes and Jack Abbott.</p><p>I am supporting Jack, however I know all three would make great MP's for this town - and that is what we need now. Never before has this great town had such an embarrassing Member of Parliament.</p><p>Someone who would rather be on GB News ranting about migrants crossing the Channel or on the BBC Politics show embarrassing himself when he seemed confused where exactly Rwanda is rather than dealing with matters that Ipswich residents are concerned about.</p><p>Even when Mr Hunt does decide to talk about Ipswich issues he often quickly seems to wish to blame certain communities, to cause division instead of building bridges.</p><p>Yesterday he decided to join two East Midlands Tory MP's for a stupid photo stunt - one that has backfired, I think that he chooses to spend time with Lee Anderson, a person who was suspended by the Labour Party, tells you all you need to know about Tom Hunt.</p><p>Once we have selected our Labour candidate, we can then get out on the doorstep to pass on our positive message to Ipswich residents - and start the process of getting rid of this embarrassing MP </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is what Ipswich needs > </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3w00d-k3pJ5atNIu5LzBGwpOGiSoMpyWd2ZJXwKD52qzAf3M8VjCsGuorh-zYCd5n6z6UV4-n6Epjdu5TU84qWzOFWOOpDWxRmR7V_T76JrbL0syCSCbmHYdtiAEpL1zYQydxy-x_GEkq0PBVnm-fKed5_YpQwLxuTowXAntonRaSHQAaEr7P8-MRfg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="680" height="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3w00d-k3pJ5atNIu5LzBGwpOGiSoMpyWd2ZJXwKD52qzAf3M8VjCsGuorh-zYCd5n6z6UV4-n6Epjdu5TU84qWzOFWOOpDWxRmR7V_T76JrbL0syCSCbmHYdtiAEpL1zYQydxy-x_GEkq0PBVnm-fKed5_YpQwLxuTowXAntonRaSHQAaEr7P8-MRfg=w640-h505" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not this ></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijOhZv5b2mR1G4YWPbQbvPuXi6QdDa6atcuGTe4KqaOtZL7Qkp68041oBkHb_5R_yPD3oP-ZaOv2Wjm5zk7fIkuhfotwrnjM6Suoz1ehcrVF_WHYYuOQTwBmnJV6irgrvwndHQmKNDyHWXq3hHZkEbRZek4HKP5Ne9bnUY7WJGOUIopeBSzofSQFBrkA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijOhZv5b2mR1G4YWPbQbvPuXi6QdDa6atcuGTe4KqaOtZL7Qkp68041oBkHb_5R_yPD3oP-ZaOv2Wjm5zk7fIkuhfotwrnjM6Suoz1ehcrVF_WHYYuOQTwBmnJV6irgrvwndHQmKNDyHWXq3hHZkEbRZek4HKP5Ne9bnUY7WJGOUIopeBSzofSQFBrkA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Then again , other versions may make you smile, but unfortunately still embarrassing to think he is our MP.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbCBXqfCPFNu7T2LogEMFH_9yb9CwYCyrKwEYPrOSSOtkrJzrIoIyep_mwjvbHkUMVZCkoNPo0rmLxENmJ24ZvOVhuFHI49jdny7BBI5naoCr7EEjGUtXJV403zQ_lnP2LP3hf_pm0F956QGGHbG2gKgdVlYHosjdKk_rp-z7C1f7fCp7XFQZEPUIRzw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbCBXqfCPFNu7T2LogEMFH_9yb9CwYCyrKwEYPrOSSOtkrJzrIoIyep_mwjvbHkUMVZCkoNPo0rmLxENmJ24ZvOVhuFHI49jdny7BBI5naoCr7EEjGUtXJV403zQ_lnP2LP3hf_pm0F956QGGHbG2gKgdVlYHosjdKk_rp-z7C1f7fCp7XFQZEPUIRzw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7iN-CbxuTfBqZuiyrSHxAuB7B5vEWngGBmmQVdn6_SFaRXc9t97sizdu6yN-r5MQncmob7O4qTJWJ6aTcUnZkPCO05pdG6VYTmJgPOU7itUFqkb5o47moHX4oVRq-6gNAeNtTBoZ3-QF_OsnOq2vVIm37D33xskAsdBa5GUFqd6DA--BrnFy4anchPg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="680" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7iN-CbxuTfBqZuiyrSHxAuB7B5vEWngGBmmQVdn6_SFaRXc9t97sizdu6yN-r5MQncmob7O4qTJWJ6aTcUnZkPCO05pdG6VYTmJgPOU7itUFqkb5o47moHX4oVRq-6gNAeNtTBoZ3-QF_OsnOq2vVIm37D33xskAsdBa5GUFqd6DA--BrnFy4anchPg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-85792445390418328602022-02-25T18:14:00.006+00:002022-02-25T18:14:58.845+00:00Ukraine - Ipswich stands in solidarity <p>We knew Putin was dangerous, however Johnson and the Tory Party got closer to him by taking more Russian money, The Far Left of my own party found it hard to be critical of anything Putin did and most others just thought it was idle threats.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs8B7a-Vsd2_VD3gIGEjbg7Wq4sXPpfNr4eRXJOb4crRiTKnF5RYhnnGwolHi_nZqbuBCUVDEYzmnhaGU6xzWj1zkIV_nPSa8hMnLoiGBGKvXsVaz5Xqm5pOeV7wdiZJ_omvpDMyl54yiUMKwiksnpngPzqkkWlifF1J2n_YXINZXQ9GuE6zFdYRowlQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs8B7a-Vsd2_VD3gIGEjbg7Wq4sXPpfNr4eRXJOb4crRiTKnF5RYhnnGwolHi_nZqbuBCUVDEYzmnhaGU6xzWj1zkIV_nPSa8hMnLoiGBGKvXsVaz5Xqm5pOeV7wdiZJ_omvpDMyl54yiUMKwiksnpngPzqkkWlifF1J2n_YXINZXQ9GuE6zFdYRowlQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br />Now we have seen a major European country invaded, similar to World War 2? Possibly, but certainly it has the possibility of being far more of an issue for the whole world than the Balkan crisis was.<p></p><p>I visited the Ukraine , not long after it gained independence and spent two weeks in the Crimea, the Russians certainly never left that part of the country. We can't do much as individuals and now rely on our Government to act - however I fear that Johnson/Truss/Wallace are incapable of doing the right thing.</p><p>In Ipswich, we can show our solidarity with the Ukrainian people.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cllr David Ellesmere, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, says:</span></p><p aria-hidden="true" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i>“Lit by blue and yellow from tonight will be our Town Hall in the heart of Ipswich. I know many Ipswich residents are deeply concerned about what is happening in Ukraine and worried about the safety of its people as they fight back against the illegal invasion by Russia. We are joining with councils around the world as we stand in solidarity by displaying the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag.”</i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><br /></i></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Unfortunately, one local Tory Councilor decided to post on Facebook his support for Putin and the invasion of the Ukraine. He had formerly been a UKIP member, and it just indicates again that the local Tory Party now acts just like a branch of UKIP. </p><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-50192225548774813192022-01-04T19:38:00.020+00:002022-01-04T20:02:12.641+00:00Please listen - the last words of Rifleman Thatcher (RIP)<p>In 2009 in Sangin, I was always impressed by the bravery and humour of the young Rifleman. Maybe as I was a stranger to many of them taht seemed happy to chat, in the queue at lunch or waiting for the weekly phone call, running round the helipad or looking for a book in the makeshift library. one thing i did notice was that even if the type of conflict had changed, the weapons and the threat - Rifleman are still rifleman and for every young man I met in 2009, I could see in them the same attributes taht I had seen in young Rifleman I had served with in Cyprus, Germany, Belfast, Crossmaglen, Bosnia or Kosovo. The same willingness to question, to laugh, mischief always close but also you knew taht your could depend on them.</p><p>I never wrote a letter like Rifleman Thatcher did, I did not need to, most of my time was spent in the slightly safer surrounds of the Operations Room in Sangin, but if I had I am not sure my words would have been as passionate, eloquent or thoughtful as those of this young man.</p><p>Please <a href="https://youtu.be/BFSJQOlaHhc">listen here </a>as Benedict Cumberbatch reads the last letter from Cyrus to his family, no doubt that if he ad survived taht summer of hell, he would not have been a senior NCO within the Rifles, our Regiment lost a future leader, his family lost a son and brother.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DxzKck9UdrRwiyrWkNG3VCQ5jckL-hypF1fRMKmWY5-nmM-A1c_-p7PqUmkYpvkJRWR3O5dRqvm4VARNQzajF6iZF_MuvJZgw9dQHHSvrJmA65_fyWrtofUa8BbNqCdNrC8WLLW6Q5vN/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="250" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DxzKck9UdrRwiyrWkNG3VCQ5jckL-hypF1fRMKmWY5-nmM-A1c_-p7PqUmkYpvkJRWR3O5dRqvm4VARNQzajF6iZF_MuvJZgw9dQHHSvrJmA65_fyWrtofUa8BbNqCdNrC8WLLW6Q5vN/w480-h640/image.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-23740224430357158282021-07-14T10:22:00.000+00:002021-07-14T10:22:10.256+00:00Ipswich Tory MP - 'Twisting the facts?'<div>Somehow, I have ended up on the Tory MP for Ipswich, Tom Hun's mailing list - and in my inbox today arrived his latest effort.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgM58dDqfoNLKEiCXJc2lEBVc4wQ7MDSxzrZ9crpGNm-Gem-C0tuyobjS0Orbf1kZm21-CLPFLvD-xHtDE4JnKtMVJlMjX4j-soM1qvro495fR9riDGWpunfslnHGmy7tl9uJEGYxJql-/s1024/ipswich-jubilee-park-2017-slb--data.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgM58dDqfoNLKEiCXJc2lEBVc4wQ7MDSxzrZ9crpGNm-Gem-C0tuyobjS0Orbf1kZm21-CLPFLvD-xHtDE4JnKtMVJlMjX4j-soM1qvro495fR9riDGWpunfslnHGmy7tl9uJEGYxJql-/s320/ipswich-jubilee-park-2017-slb--data.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Talk of the football, no mention this time of his criticism of players 'taking the knee'. Other pieces are on worthwhile visits to schools, YMCA and Felixstowe Docks, then I got to a piece about a recent visit by Mr Hunt and the Tory Police and Crime Commissioner to Maple Park in Ipswich.</div><div><br /></div><div>It seems either Mt Hunt was not aware of the facts of the recent successful bid for Home Office funding or he was deliberately 'twisting' the facts. so he would not have to give Ipswich Labour run Ipswich Borough Council any credit for the work they did.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr Hunt, stated that <b>" Recently Tim (<i>the Tory PCC) </i>led a bid alongside the Borough Council to secure money from Government (and was successful in securing £4000,000) to invest in the area to fund more work to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour problems."</b></div><div><i></i><b></b><br /></div><div>I would have thought Mr Hunt was aware that is not what happened. Mr Passmore, the Police and the Borough Council put in a bid for Home Office funding, but were unsuccessful. The Home Office then asked would we like to bid again (we were given very little time to bid). Mr Passmore decided that he would not bid this time but was happy to support any Local Authority that did. Only Ipswich Borough Council put a <a href="https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/crime/maple-park-ipswich-crime-safety-funding-8025116">bid in,</a> our Officers did most of the work with significant input from Ipswich Police. Mr Passmore supported our application. The other (Tory run) Local Authorities did not bid.</div><div><br /></div><div>So no way is Mr Hunt correct in saying that Mr Passmore <b><u>Led</u></b> the bid alongside the Borough Council!! All the leadership on this successful bid was from Ipswich Borough Council - from our Labour Laeder, David Ellesmere, myself as Portfolio Holder and from our Officers with much needed valuable support from the then Head of Policing in Ipswich, Kerry Cutler.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to believe in this case Mr Hunt is deliberately twisting the facts to suit his own agenda.</div><div><br /></div><div>Was pleased to see that Mr Hunt believes the work the Borough is doing in the area is working, but again he seems to imply that much of the work that is being done is because he asked us. Where in fact the council and in particular the three Labour Westgate councillors have been working hard to improve the area with the local community for a number of years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr Hunt may be just saying he was expressing his own views but I for one am not sure an MP stating that Maple Park was the most sinister arear in the town that he visited helps anyione, in particular those who call the area their home.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span style="color: #002000;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-67402272971305242402021-06-30T12:38:00.003+00:002021-06-30T12:40:20.359+00:00Good news for Brunswick Road Recreation ground - new play area<div>Brunswick Road Recreation Ground - You said - We listened - Many local residents they would like there to be more for children to do on our local park - We spoke to local people and two messages came across, loud and clear.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRdv4WXaWCDQ9aDysNy5bLd90qezXcof4ky6uLxKDFWfS0PJE1XRIF0DgoKwCoECdTyPVBnMFSxkstKFkwTV9p74qwpMzPbnnRo57pWIwMUvtCoXLAdh5hccpJbNcYkIz2qK63o8gxIOf/s1754/park1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1754" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRdv4WXaWCDQ9aDysNy5bLd90qezXcof4ky6uLxKDFWfS0PJE1XRIF0DgoKwCoECdTyPVBnMFSxkstKFkwTV9p74qwpMzPbnnRo57pWIwMUvtCoXLAdh5hccpJbNcYkIz2qK63o8gxIOf/w400-h283/park1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Small children need their own space, where they can play and explore in safety. So the Labour run, Borough Council is going to renew the equipment in the toddlers' play area, with swings and a slide and new things to do, and a new safe surface to help prevent any injuries.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dlqzjEDWowo1jIFvGQys6eXhNfbr79Y53aF6jb_SV6oUtcEW3WsnzwTY-gvrmoRo-AVRrQy-sg7B77LNNXe16Tsmrx7o07RtpALZHD8oGEHVuA1Cam-A9ffD_vMNo3YWRcy96gLC1apS/s1754/park2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1754" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dlqzjEDWowo1jIFvGQys6eXhNfbr79Y53aF6jb_SV6oUtcEW3WsnzwTY-gvrmoRo-AVRrQy-sg7B77LNNXe16Tsmrx7o07RtpALZHD8oGEHVuA1Cam-A9ffD_vMNo3YWRcy96gLC1apS/w400-h283/park2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Older children need something to challenge them, where they can hang out - literally! The Firefox climber (see picture below) has proved really popular with youngsters on Cobham Rd Rec, and so we will also have something similar installed on Brunswick Road Rec.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMZ51WkxCbNp6wFi7pFc3JfKR7zcO4NrWSmWh5CxMWYGrC14D3_O0tT0hPnU2pAvFh120azFtM1V39iyyBqPuWU6SIz28QEF0dNGKpjxyXVQCDJoTgCM0XQsldQJ4zM8GIbxZd1BVOaaY/s1380/park3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1380" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMZ51WkxCbNp6wFi7pFc3JfKR7zcO4NrWSmWh5CxMWYGrC14D3_O0tT0hPnU2pAvFh120azFtM1V39iyyBqPuWU6SIz28QEF0dNGKpjxyXVQCDJoTgCM0XQsldQJ4zM8GIbxZd1BVOaaY/w640-h358/park3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We want to know what you think of what is planned? Can you let me know by 14 July, please send vires to alasdir.roos@councillors.ipswich.gov.uk</div><div><br /></div><div>The plan is for the current play area to close on 1st September 2021, and the new area to be open by 1st October.</div><div><br /></div><div>We will also be looking at installing some 'outdoor gym' equipment for older teenagers and adults, possibly early next year, and we would welcome your views on that proposal.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can now follow your local Rushmere Labour team on Facebook -<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RushmereLabour/"> here</a></div>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-43993273542623822112021-06-20T11:00:00.005+00:002021-06-20T11:00:59.441+00:00Save our trees!<p>Over the last few months, man residents have contacted us about Tory run Suffolk County Council and Network Rail cutting down trees.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDGCNL5D-ra7-yado-GEf5ROOcn7jUrOhgnK86q-vNDm47GwBQKccgylnBrMoZ3EUeCO0g6dIQdsBXgx-8Eq5WudK4-vEGAI1kC7Z6hl8cuZxw6tDfL3tVr9ES7bwrPUyyA86q3mBTrY/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDGCNL5D-ra7-yado-GEf5ROOcn7jUrOhgnK86q-vNDm47GwBQKccgylnBrMoZ3EUeCO0g6dIQdsBXgx-8Eq5WudK4-vEGAI1kC7Z6hl8cuZxw6tDfL3tVr9ES7bwrPUyyA86q3mBTrY/w400-h400/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Ipswich Labour run Ipswich Borough Council have a policy of replacing any tree cut down by planting two new ones in it's place. Unfortunately , Suffolk County Council don't allow for trees to be replaced on residential streets.</p><p>Often, we as the Borough Council get the blame as the County Council sub-contract to us the inspection of and then felling of the trees.</p><p>We fully understand that trees many not be suitable to be re-planted in some streets however they could be planted somewhere else in the Borough, the Tory County Council have promised substantial tree planting throughout the County but it seems in Ipswich they just want to remove as many trees as possible.</p><p>Network Rail, do replant trees but they could be re-planted anywhere in East Anglia, not just in the town they were knocked down in - again, this is not good enough.</p><p>Trees are vital for local wildlife, cleaner air and improving the local street scene, if you agree, please sign our petition, calling on the County Council and Network Rail to replace felled trees in Ipswich and to follow the example of Labour run Ipswich and replace every one felled with two new trees.</p><p>Petition is <a href="https://www.ipswich-labour.org.uk/save-our-trees/">here</a></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-13359719146236671992021-06-06T15:54:00.005+00:002021-06-06T15:55:25.267+00:00More good news for Ipswich<p><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">More
good news for Ipswich residents with the Council’s bid to improve safety in
Maple Park having more success with £422,200 awarded from the government’s
Safer Streets Fund. The money awarded will look to reduce crime and make people
feel safer.</span></b></p><p class="xmsonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXmw4dNcZJ4O0EXZoDbj0Qm6pnxzjuqZ5m_I__26tIfzDTKwt2RMqoDFrPQo4yCz1OfB-SkwIbbT3R7qThGcQJGvbnC7NSwjUwnVXRLHCY2URdVZggIsgLtetr0fESdBZXzTo6rMwlOy4/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="770" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXmw4dNcZJ4O0EXZoDbj0Qm6pnxzjuqZ5m_I__26tIfzDTKwt2RMqoDFrPQo4yCz1OfB-SkwIbbT3R7qThGcQJGvbnC7NSwjUwnVXRLHCY2URdVZggIsgLtetr0fESdBZXzTo6rMwlOy4/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Home
Office were so impressed with the Maple Park project that they are now using it
as an example of ‘best practice’ – the success of this ongoing project is down
to the hard work of Ipswich Borough Council Officer, Ipswich Police, the three
Labour Ward councillor’s for Westgate Ward, however the biggest thanks must go
to the local residents who came forward to be involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Improvements
will include better CCTV – more cameras as well as improving sight-lines;
alley-gating that will prevent access to the backs of house and flats;
improving currently unused space to make it feel owned and used by the local
community; better street-lighting and other measures. There will also be
regular surveys of people’s perceptions of the success of these measures and
other community-building initiatives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ann Clarke, Treasurer of
the Friends of Maple Park residents group commented;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">"There
is a lively and vibrant community around the Maple Park area and it is
fantastic to see that the Council have obtained this funding which will go to
improving the safety of the residents in the neighbourhood and</span></i><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> those
visiting. Increased security measures and better lighting will be really
appreciated by the community." </span></i><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">As the Portfolio Holder
for Public Protection, I am very proud of the team of Officers who have worked
on this project , disappointed that (as of yet_) our Tory MP, Mr Hunt and the
vast majority of the Tory Councillors in Ipswich have failed to comment on this
good news. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Borough Officers,
the local Police team, local Ward Councillors and residents deserve praise from
all of us who are elected to represent Ipswich residents, whether you are
Labour, Tory or Lib Dem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-18200386868880773422021-06-06T15:23:00.007+00:002021-06-07T06:18:18.151+00:00A campaign that was based on deceit <p> The main thrust of the Tory campaign to win County Council seats in Ipswich was based on deceit - even the Tory MP for the town took time off from attaching footballers, to join in - their message was for the Tories as Labour County Council councillor's had failed to spend their budget given to them for local highway issues. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssbkgVpy12sO-DJHorldhDP1c8_zxsqoiIt8X_hQgkBYmBJqtRRXOehc35itMoULS8AxLc53mktaNbqRf65xCfkLTa9bNImG_FPx1q7sNGmitnwSeeMalW5FKfZtSMPiQTndGBe41ZUTO/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="228" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssbkgVpy12sO-DJHorldhDP1c8_zxsqoiIt8X_hQgkBYmBJqtRRXOehc35itMoULS8AxLc53mktaNbqRf65xCfkLTa9bNImG_FPx1q7sNGmitnwSeeMalW5FKfZtSMPiQTndGBe41ZUTO/w400-h349/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Tory Group in Ipswich, had researched very carefully to come up with the figure for unspent budgets, they used social media to say that they would have no problem spending the money if they were elected.<p></p><p>But this is the real deceit, if they had requested the figures from the County Council ( and one of the Ipswich Group is in the County Cabinet, so you would have thought he would have known anyway) and done the research they said they had they would have known that in fact of 75 Suffolk County Councillors (majority of whom are Tory) only <span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="color: #494949;">only three had been able to spend all of their Local Highways Budget by 31 March 2021. My Labour colleague, Martin Cook has<a href="https://t.co/3THfAiArCm?amp=1"> uncovered the deceit</a>. </span></p><p style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #494949; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">In total £2.1m was unspent across Suffolk on 31 March 2021 and even after forward commitments into 2021-2022 were considered there was £1.3m left in the kitty. People will struggle to understand how this could be the case when there is clearly so much work to be done.</p><p style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #494949; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those who failed to spend their budget included Former Tory cabinet members for Highways Mary Evans and Guy McGregor They were in good company with former Tory cabinet member for Highways and Thedwastre North councillor, Jane Storey who returned £49,880.18 unspent.</p><p style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #494949; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Even former Tory Council leaders were not immune, Mark Bee had money left over as did Colin Noble who offered £48,460.53 cashback. The top spot however was reserved for Conservative Councillor Peter Beer (Great Cornard) who returned a whopping £66,825.64, more than any other Councillor.</p><p style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #494949; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The fact that Suffolk’s Local Highways Budget scheme is dysfunctional shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Tory-run Suffolk County Council fails us on highways projects large and small. From potholes that take six months to repair even after the work has been ordered to large projects like the Ipswich Northern Bypass, abandoned with £1m spent or the scrapped Upper Orwell Crossing (£8m wasted) the signs of failure are everywhere.</p><p style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #494949; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When even experienced, senior county councillors are unable to spend their Local Highways Budget it points to a systemic failure of governance.</p><p style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #494949; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We can rightfully blame the Tory County Council for failing us on highways however when it comes to deceit in election campaigning, the local Ipswich Tory group should take full responsibility and they were ably assisted in that deceit by our Tory MP, Tom Hunt.</p><p style="border-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #494949; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am sure they knew most Tory County Councillors had also failed to spend their budget they might have even known that it was a Tory who handed back the most - but they kept those facts from the electorate - deceit helped the Tories to win County Council seats.</p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-47050625416100364292021-05-28T08:50:00.000+00:002021-05-28T08:50:04.485+00:00You told them they were safe<div>Cummings might not be the person to trust- however, the truth will come out - but do we need to wait? Certainly the inquiry could start now. Johnson and Hancock should go now - they will be pushed out, but not ye the electorate- Gove and Sunak will see their opportunity for power and Cummings may even end up back with Gove!</div><div><br /></div><div>A game of Tory musical chairs taking place whilst people still wait for answers to know why members of their families died!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgs_2f3a8fGPXIjXoR2T3f4duZJHpZuA51gW92Z-PmI_HVuqpyWJ9qx9-aUbT-Yp1NdfkBC8AQbT2e_DL4LzRi4QDp5qGGgntb6tXFg0D1ekAsxAqcZyx0RbbB_NiRoY7WP1eHhW03rTr_/s723/hancock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="568" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgs_2f3a8fGPXIjXoR2T3f4duZJHpZuA51gW92Z-PmI_HVuqpyWJ9qx9-aUbT-Yp1NdfkBC8AQbT2e_DL4LzRi4QDp5qGGgntb6tXFg0D1ekAsxAqcZyx0RbbB_NiRoY7WP1eHhW03rTr_/w502-h640/hancock.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-23487915954751084282021-05-16T10:06:00.000+00:002021-05-16T10:06:00.399+00:00Thank you, Rushmere residents <p> Over a week ago, I was re-elected to Ipswich Borough Council, to represent Rushmere Ward. there is no hiding the fact that the Ipswich Labour party did not have a great night, we expected to lose some seats after probably over achieving when these seats were up for election last in 2016, but it was still very disappointing to lose a number of seats on the Borough and County Councils.</p><p>We also lost some very good councilors and many were also very good friends, but they will return and it is up to us who are left on the council to continue their good work.</p><p>Ipswich is a well run council, we have gone the extra mile to help our residents and businesses during the pandemic - but we still lost seats, why?</p><p>There is no doubt that the Tories locally are better organised than they have been for a while, and they now campaign in wards where they would never have been seen before. Unfortunately they also seem keen to copy Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and even Corbyn in acting as 'populist' politicians - hiding away from the real issues, real facts or bothering looking at the costs. More worryingly they also in some cases act like our local Tory MP and seek to divide our local communities, willing to allow certain communities to be used as scapegoats.</p><p>No surprise then, that they have allowed former UKIP candidates to stand for them in local elections, many of the UKIP policies were openly racist however I hope that those former UKIP members now elected as Tory councillors in the town, do not hold those racist beliefs that many UKIP politicians were proud to display.</p><p>I hope for the sake of this town, that Shayne Pooley and Tony Gould look to represent all their constituents fairly and we must give them the opportunity to show that they are willing to do so and not revert to UKIP rhetoric of 'send them all back'. </p><p>But back to why did we lose seats? - We have made mistakes locally, we have concentrated on protecting our town during the pandemic and maybe needed to spend some of our time on telling residents what we hope to do in the future, I am sure residents will be very impressed with what we have got planned for the next few months, however it was not possible to go public with what we have in the pipeline, in particular some interesting announcements about the town centre.</p><p>It is also obvious that Boris Johnson is popular, even if in the end it will be shown that he has lied to Parliament on a number of occasions and at times was more interested in his own wallet than the future of this country. He has benefited from a vaccine bounce, but we may see a similar drop in his popularity at the end of furlough. Worryingly, he may 'ignore the science' and we will continue with his 'roadmap' out of the pandemic even if the Indian variant starts to kill many of our population. as he is loathe to go back to a further lockdown.</p><p>Keir Starmer and his front bench have also struggled to get their message over to the population, difficult as Johnson has managed to fool voters in forgetting that the Tories have been in power for 11 years, a trick Mr Hunt attempts in Ipswich when talking about crime - who would think the Tories have had 11 years to sort it out but high crime rates are still not the fault of the Tory Government or the Tory Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, some even attempt to blame me!!</p><p>We also still have the problem of Corbyn, most former leaders, tend to keep a low profile, whilst we have Corbyn who is very happy to go in front of the press to say where Keir went wrong in May! No humility at all. I for one hope that most Labour members will see by the way the far left have behaved over the last few months that it is now the time they are given the message from members, that they are no longer wanted in our party, never before have I seen a protest group within the party act like Momentum have - we are fighting elections whist at the same time they are having campaign strikes! Time they were kicked out, they are not wanted in Labour by most members and in particular by labour voters.</p><p>What I can say to Rushmere residents, is that I will continue to represent you to the best of my ability- it doesn't matter if you did or did not vote for me, and as lockdown measures ease, you will see plenty of myself and our local Labour team on the doorstep over the next year.</p><p><br /></p><p>Take care.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;">Rushmere Ward - Declared</h3><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial; line-height: 1.4em;">One seat contested.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial; line-height: 1.4em;">Turn out: 43.62%</p><table style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; display: block; font-family: arial; margin: 16px 0px; overflow-x: auto;"><thead><tr style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><th style="background-color: #666666; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(102, 102, 102); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; padding: 2px 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Surname </th><th style="background-color: #666666; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(102, 102, 102); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; padding: 2px 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">First name</th><th style="background-color: #666666; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(102, 102, 102); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; padding: 2px 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Party</th><th style="background-color: #666666; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(119, 119, 119); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; padding: 2px 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Votes</th></tr></thead><tbody style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><tr style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">FLETCHER</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Julie</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Liberal Democrats </td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">126</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">ION</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephen Richard </td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conservative </td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">1,159</td></tr><tr style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">MORRIS</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rachel</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Green </td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">200</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="color: black;">ROSS</strong></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="color: black;">Alasdair Donald Mackenzie </strong></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="color: black;">Labour</strong></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 2px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="color: black;">1,208</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; display: block; font-family: arial; margin: 16px 0px; overflow-x: auto;"><thead><tr style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><th style="background-color: #666666; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(102, 102, 102); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; padding: 2px 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></th><th style="background-color: #666666; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(102, 102, 102); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; padding: 2px 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"></th><th style="background-color: #666666; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(119, 119, 119) rgb(102, 102, 102); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; padding: 2px 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"></th><th style="background-color: #666666; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(102, 102, 102) rgb(119, 119, 119); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: white; padding: 2px 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"></th></tr></thead><tbody style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"></tbody></table>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-38345383746237701662021-05-05T09:48:00.004+00:002021-05-05T09:48:59.778+00:00Vote for Ipswich Labour this Thursday - May 6th<div>Less than 24 hours to go to Polling Day, unlike previous elections, many more of us will have already voted by post, however as it is a local election - every vote does count. we have seen some very small margins of victory over the years, I won Rushmere myself the first time by just 13 votes!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am not sure what the result will look like in Rushmere this Thursday, I just hope that I have done enough for my residents since 2008 to maintain their trust and be elected for a further 3 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, I have been in politics long enough to know that often people are voting on national issues- there is undoubtedly a 'feel good' bounce from the vaccine programme and as we now seem to be coming out of lockdown, but we must remember that we have one of the highest death rates in Europe and many families are morning lost members of their families, certainly major mistakes have been made by those in Government. Plus we have seen a return to Tory sleaze.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would encourage those living in Ipswich to vote for your labour candidates on Thursday, there are very few safe seats for either party in the town, maybe the Tories have 2 safe seats, Labour the same and Lib Dems just one, however all have lost them or come close to losing them in the past.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am very proud of how the Labour run council have acted during the pandemic and I believe we are the best placed to take this town forward as we get back to some sort of normality- from building homes, offering entertainment, and looking after residents - we have a proven track record.</div><div><br /></div><div>For Suffolk County Council, Ipswich need strong Labour Councillors to combat the Tory wish to spend as much as possible of their budget outside the County town - the Suffolk Tories have been responsible for lack of funding in transport, closing Children's centres and can't even pay all their staff the 'Living' wage.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is more worrying is how the Tory MP for Ipswich, Mr Hunt seems to love highlighting the differencse between our many communities rather than building bridges, his Facebook page is grim reading with many of the comments from his supporters making no attempt to disguise the fact they are racist.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately a number of the current Tory councillors and some of their candidates at this election are not only happy to go along with the 'populist' agenda of Mr Hunt but seem to be as keen as he is to highlight the problems in the town rather than go the extra mile to improve the lives of all our residents .</div><div><br /></div><div>So please consider, Voting labour in Ipswich this Thursday.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Labour run Ipswich Council building more homes for our residents.</div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx3lQEj1s25-G_QfWOcEjDKkQhrBUXXPlfphIk75Vz3afqJAb2_uvlPWZ91oykWO7MdXWkpFibOByDYbbfzI4OcFB4BXQ9DCyINo9FmgGjvzDefJLUKVFozbQW1FiHRabeBVgSC3yii8q/s680/ho1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="680" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx3lQEj1s25-G_QfWOcEjDKkQhrBUXXPlfphIk75Vz3afqJAb2_uvlPWZ91oykWO7MdXWkpFibOByDYbbfzI4OcFB4BXQ9DCyINo9FmgGjvzDefJLUKVFozbQW1FiHRabeBVgSC3yii8q/w400-h269/ho1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcvXXM2zkP8GQjbWv32igUn79pCpxHbKA4JmQPqDZRIMCLgTWSBb6LtkY037maR-rMg2KzoTxvdeIwM9ZxD6PUaZH8bVqkYEen_Krb4jwqWG582L-vLQYE-s6PdmJRcHCWvLYI905XMVS/s680/ho2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcvXXM2zkP8GQjbWv32igUn79pCpxHbKA4JmQPqDZRIMCLgTWSBb6LtkY037maR-rMg2KzoTxvdeIwM9ZxD6PUaZH8bVqkYEen_Krb4jwqWG582L-vLQYE-s6PdmJRcHCWvLYI905XMVS/w400-h300/ho2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-74565999376924711452021-04-03T14:48:00.006+00:002021-04-03T14:48:55.985+00:00Suffolk Tories fail to light our streets<p> The Labour run Borough Council in Ipswich have called on Tory run Suffolk County Council to turn back on the street lights at night after the tragic murder of Sarah Everard. So far the Tories have refused.</p><p>The Labour run Borough Council owns about 5% of the towns street lights, mostly footpath lights, and we will be turning those back on throughout the night.</p><p>So, it's disappointing to hear from a resident that the lights in the Angus Close/Sidegate Lane footpath have not been working at all for the last two years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY9PTcV5Bmvyxqhyh-YWIg-QSVhaxJxQwdLZVkpxkxrIuqjWVHNdtdVgqDstY9fkypCufqq_N7x9USG10GvhJ81XBOxYB68vM9MtDNyzC6kARMAE6YZk9deoD0s65qDXU6DnGa3Gm2sFm/s2048/IMG_20210401_145003226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY9PTcV5Bmvyxqhyh-YWIg-QSVhaxJxQwdLZVkpxkxrIuqjWVHNdtdVgqDstY9fkypCufqq_N7x9USG10GvhJ81XBOxYB68vM9MtDNyzC6kARMAE6YZk9deoD0s65qDXU6DnGa3Gm2sFm/w300-h400/IMG_20210401_145003226.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>When Cllr Sandra Gage took this up with the County Council, they admitted they had known since 2019 that the lights did not work, but they had found it too hard to get scaffolding past the cycle barriers, so they had not bothered to fix them - or even inform the Borough who own them!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWosuVWwvhQ6k1s90sgYTYDZRIwB9usW7TkR4-aJIf6V5kXlql_Xz6X59fnxEzp7TJvjqCIN-nmhWSmQnQWl_WpspMAOFDCd0tmawjmib4oVxuAvOIuaLZ7FC_1o9z8FQU2luF_oLvOS6x/s2048/IMG_20210401_145029219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWosuVWwvhQ6k1s90sgYTYDZRIwB9usW7TkR4-aJIf6V5kXlql_Xz6X59fnxEzp7TJvjqCIN-nmhWSmQnQWl_WpspMAOFDCd0tmawjmib4oVxuAvOIuaLZ7FC_1o9z8FQU2luF_oLvOS6x/s320/IMG_20210401_145029219.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>This is not good enough; these lights are owned by the Borough Council and we have a contract with the Tory run County Council for them to be maintained.</p><p>After pressure from Sandra, the County have now agreed to fix the lights - the Rushmere Labour team will keep the pressure on, to make sure they do.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-18436359661881526442021-03-30T10:23:00.004+00:002021-03-30T10:23:52.301+00:00Ipswich Tory MPs insulting words<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPIuBFJPKdYllImQ-7rd6wRriBciNlMpmL6VFG5KjDJLMyKECSJLTj8RkTBobkmHe7QPFiug2_Uo9CbMyhA_XOM4CTsZrA-0TBMD7v9OCWUSPw4FWi-CakusLeHGyTp9MJRd4jNIqWobr/s604/warm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="604" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPIuBFJPKdYllImQ-7rd6wRriBciNlMpmL6VFG5KjDJLMyKECSJLTj8RkTBobkmHe7QPFiug2_Uo9CbMyhA_XOM4CTsZrA-0TBMD7v9OCWUSPw4FWi-CakusLeHGyTp9MJRd4jNIqWobr/w400-h266/warm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not for the first time , our at times embarrassing Tory MP for Ipswich has decided to attack our local Labour Party, not on policy, not on how we run the council? He decided to question our patriotism - for Mt Hunt it seems to show you are patriotic, you have to at least wear a union jack face mask in parliament, if not you might as well go and live in North Korea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many of us, a bit older still cringe when we see the Union Jack used as a tool to show how patriotic you are, we remember when it was 'hijacked' by the likes of the National Front. Unfortunately a number of the 2019 Tory intake at Westminster seem to employ tactics the National front would have been proud of, highlighting our differences rather than promoting what we all share.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a veteran, I could not stand quietly and allow Mr Hunt attack us over our patriotism, so I wrote to my local paper the Ipswich star, who printed the letter on Monday 29 March 2021. This is the full version of the letter that i sent to the Star.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>To the Ipswich Star,</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Last week in your newspaper, the MP for Ipswich, Mr Hunt used his column to explain why he was happy to vote for the Police and Crime, Sentencing and Court Bill. He then went on to accuse the Ipswich Labour Party of ridiculing the bill, in particular the part that proposed tougher punishments on those who desecrate our War Memorials. i found his comments both very insulting and unjust.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>I am not only a member of the Ipswich Labour Party, but also a veteran and the Armed Forces Champion for Ipswich Borough Council, now the protection of war memorials may not be my top priority as Armed Forces Champion. My highest priority is in fact making sure that veterans in Suffolk have access to the best mental health care available, just over a year ago I lost a close friend from my regiment who committed suicide, he was still serving and no one was aware that he was suffering from PTSD. That came only a year after we lost another fellow Rifleman to suicide. That along with trying to help veterans who have found themselves in prison is far more pressing issue currently for veterans.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>However, I fully understand the importance of war memorials, not only to veterans but also to the families of those who have fallen. It is one of my proudest moments as a councillor in Ipswich, assisting to get a street and a square named after two soldiers from our town who lost their lives in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>My own Regiment, the Royal Green Jackets, lost many men in the 41 years of our existence, all those Riflemen are remembered on various war memorial's, all over this land. I served with 2 Rifles in Afghanistan in 2009, 25 men of that Battle Group never returned home, all their names are on the memorial at the National Arboretum . On that same memorial to those from the Armed Forces who have died in conflict since 1945 are the names of Paul Harding and Mark Hale. Paul was a close friend, my mentor, my hero, who rose to the rank of Major only to die, leading from the front in Basra, Iraq. Captain Mark Hale, I only knew for a short time, but we hit it off straight away, we were from the same era, shared many of the same views on the army, on the 12 August 2009, we had dinner together in the dusty mess tent in Sangin, Afghanistan, less than a day later, he was dead, killed by an IED, whilst helping others.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SvO6_noDj58rkn3x3eCwUsbphUbIl8yW14bPGMweMq9Lx2cGkEvrrQDIu-VnzNF_v5pcqKE_h5XqCkDjg3kwp0gaVGbH55HwcuFva8X068Y9HICrQKO2EyFwWrVviOeVCUhaCuZW0gbJ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SvO6_noDj58rkn3x3eCwUsbphUbIl8yW14bPGMweMq9Lx2cGkEvrrQDIu-VnzNF_v5pcqKE_h5XqCkDjg3kwp0gaVGbH55HwcuFva8X068Y9HICrQKO2EyFwWrVviOeVCUhaCuZW0gbJ/w400-h300/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>I often visit the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, I find both their names on the memorial, trace my fingers over the letters of their names and when I do that my emotions are mixed, often both sorrow and anger, and then I sit on a bench by the Royal Green Jackets Memorial and I am often close to tears, those memorials are important to me - would I forget those two fellow Rifleman if the memorial was not there? No - but it is important to me, my comrades, their families, that there is a proper memorial and hope the presence of those memorials reminds politicians and national leaders that there are deadly consequences when you send soldiers into conflict.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>So Mr Hunt, as a local Labour Party member and also a veteran, I fully understand the importance of War Memorials and I certainly need no lesson from you on that subject.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>I would ask you to think carefully in the future when writing such comments, there are many Labour members and voters, who are veterans, and your words insulted all of them.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Cll Alasdair Ross</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Rushmere Ward</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Ipswich</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_iEXlgULkQ4kTJnvRYGZg_rkZEAg_mkvgyeiHEYwzSJJZobgdHqOU4dSy-v-eZENm1UocsSTSGhRzAE_oMX4N4m-vSNZSV1Z0MjnxIKu7zAqRV9fF8r27tRMrroDwFJlvwLk8SQxARMe/s1303/star+letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="721" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_iEXlgULkQ4kTJnvRYGZg_rkZEAg_mkvgyeiHEYwzSJJZobgdHqOU4dSy-v-eZENm1UocsSTSGhRzAE_oMX4N4m-vSNZSV1Z0MjnxIKu7zAqRV9fF8r27tRMrroDwFJlvwLk8SQxARMe/w354-h640/star+letter.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Mark Hale </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGU6KQaZsgj1rOMiq0-Qd6ZvgprFjDx8WxK4uQT-oO1nRvY67sz17m2JxbWgb0A3kH_ZoxhFJA5FLzzjAfNgkQ2jBdY03WScqfxKlSZasvIb7XbKQggAXqzhpjGdUj98VW5n98rcxnaOi/s310/mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="310" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGU6KQaZsgj1rOMiq0-Qd6ZvgprFjDx8WxK4uQT-oO1nRvY67sz17m2JxbWgb0A3kH_ZoxhFJA5FLzzjAfNgkQ2jBdY03WScqfxKlSZasvIb7XbKQggAXqzhpjGdUj98VW5n98rcxnaOi/w320-h239/mark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Paul Harding</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04B-DV68QJ3KgY-FhBdcCQG-3o1CvmHFpXrgKiOFagYOATmP8RljeRSf9Fn1IyHJe2AoFJ0jHaXDI6v1401eOtiM0LUsKm7sMW1nwC9VLO7LGpYCpNIBgWsJc5edY7Sv_PnyovMHw4j_5/s960/h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04B-DV68QJ3KgY-FhBdcCQG-3o1CvmHFpXrgKiOFagYOATmP8RljeRSf9Fn1IyHJe2AoFJ0jHaXDI6v1401eOtiM0LUsKm7sMW1nwC9VLO7LGpYCpNIBgWsJc5edY7Sv_PnyovMHw4j_5/s320/h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-72423068335919299972021-03-29T14:40:00.000+00:002021-03-29T14:40:23.025+00:00Network fail!<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -.1pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .2pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 29.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Network
Rail – ‘We got i</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 30.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">t wrong’</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -.25pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .05pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 17.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Over the last few weeks, Network Rail have
removed a large number of trees beside the railway line close to Belvedere Road, Moat Farm Close and Brunswick Road - with chainsaws and
large lifting equipment. Now they admit they got their communications very
wrong. They sent a stock letter saying they were just going to be cutting
foliage back with hand tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
should have explained exactly why they needed to cut down so many mature trees.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .05pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 17.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .05pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 17.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">After being challenged by your councillors, they
have claimed that those trees will be replaced at ecological projects somewhere
in East Anglia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That’s not good enough</b> - we are demanding that they plant
replacement trees in Ipswich.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .05pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 17.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .05pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 17.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">They have also still not fully apologised to
residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will carry on contacting
them on your behalf. In future they should consult with residents first before
undertaking such work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .05pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 17.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: .15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 18.0pt; text-indent: -.25pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a name="_heading=h.yy5g47x7i0d5"></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Alasdair
Ross and Sandy Martin</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-34551836064109635882021-02-02T12:59:00.001+00:002021-02-02T13:57:30.728+00:00Has Ipswich ever had a more embarrassing MP? <p><span style="font-size: medium;"> As you can never tell if Mr Hunt has taken any posted comments on board, I decided to email him and he replied- twice- but with his last email stating he would not be responding again.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In his email he did not apologise for comparing the <a href="https://alasdairross.blogspot.com/2021/01/embarrassing-comment-from-embarrassing.html">Ipswich Labour Party emblem</a> (1924) with the North Korean Workers Party emblem ( 1950s) and it was obvious he could not understand any hurt that it would cause to Labour members and voters like myself whose father had fought in the Korean War.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mr Hunt did admit he had sent messages to at least one local Tory with a previous attack on the Cambridge Labour Party for having a similar emblem to the North Korean WP, so he could not even be original in his attack on the Ipswich Labour Party. Best bit was he seemed to imply he just sent it to the local Tory Leader for interest, he was not asking him to use it to attack myself again. So he would take no responsibility for two local Tories using it to defend him/attack me! Make a mistake, you should own it! Best thing about when the Tory Leader used it, he left Mr Hunt’s name on the message. Not sure MI5 or MI6 will be calling to ask for his services.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now I have received his replies, I feel now I can answer the points he made in his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tom4ipswich/posts/1039302033232893">Facebook</a> post/rant/attack.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He did not like my comment that he was playing to the ‘right-wing crowd’. His explanation was ><i><b> I think I'm simply expressing the views shared by the vast majority of my constituents, We don't like it when people come here illegally and then when here commit criminal damage and threaten members of staff.</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">How does he know what his constituents opinion is? He has blocked many on Facebook, does not answer on twitter and when I looked down the replies to his posts, many were from people outside Ipswich - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kent, Essex, Mansfield, Felixstowe – so not sure he will know how many are from Ipswich.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He also used the line – when people come illegally – no mention that these people are refugees- some may be economic migrants but others will be fleeing war torn countries – interesting the same day, he was retweeting a Tory post that highlights that a refugee from North Korea was to stand as a candidate to be Tory Councillor in May – Did she come here illegally? Should he not just want to send her back to where she came from, as many of the comments on his Facebook post seemed to wish?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">His next paragraph was his bizarre attack on Ipswich Labour for our emblem being similar to the Workers party of North Korea, which I have already commented on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In my original tweet that seemed to cause this rant – I said he would be better of spending time on Ipswich issues such as the Northern by-pass. This caused the local Tory Leader to tweet in a supposedly humorous way that did I not know that the by-pass had been shelved, Mr (student politics?) Hunt liked the tweet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 15.6933px; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What was funny – in his Facebook post, Mr Hunt stated > As for your advice for activity on local issues Cllr Ross, perhaps you ought to give my Facebook page a follow or look at my website.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 17.12px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I took the advice of my MP and guess what? On his website, he declares ><b><i> I will continue campaigning for a Northern Bypass to ease congestion through the middle of Ipswich.</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Does he not know it has been shelved? Scrapped by the Tory run Suffolk County Council? Maybe he should have told me to take a look at his 'out of date' website?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In his letter to me he indicated that by reading my social media posts that he had decided I was defending and explaining away criminal behaviour. How wrong he is.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In fact, I expected my tweet on the subject to see criticism from the left as I stated that as I knew Napier Barracks well, having spent my 20th birthday there and operating from the camp as recently as 2009, that I doubted the arson was due to the state of the accommodation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In later tweets, i did comment that how a COVID outbreak had been dealt with by the private security firm had been given as reason for the unrest. Again at no time giving this as an excuse for the criminal behaviour, what is probably more telling, that even when the COVID outbreak became common knowledge, Mr Hunt failed at any time in his post to mention COVID, as if that would dilute his message of dealing harshly with illegal immigrants.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the comments on the post by Mr Hunt stated that they thought I wanted the camp closed and the asylum seekers/ human beings/immigrants- choose your own title - should be put up in hotels. Again I never mentioned anything like that, in fact it was the Tory MP and Tory Council leader for Folkestone who demanded that the camp is shut.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">So do I still think Mr Hunt plays to the 'right-wing crowd'?</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am afraid the answer still has to be 'yes', when he commented on Millwall fans booing players for taking a knee in support of 'Black Lives Matter' - he defended the Miwall supporters, I expect he would say he was speaking on the behalf of his constituents, however a week later Ipswich played the first of two games at home permitted by a relaxation in lockdown rules. On a miserable (football wise) afternoon, when both teams took a knee, the vast majority of the crowd stood up and applauded in support of the players, i am not sure if Mr Hunt was in the Directors Box, could not see him as he may have been sat down and too far away to ear him booing!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want further evidence of why I think he craves the support of those on the right just look at some of the comments to his original post attacking me, some are disgusting, some outrageous, some sensible but very few are factual, however at no time does Mr Hunt comment or attempt to put the true facts.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Terms used, and quite often include > 'illegal immigrants' 'Send them back to where they came from' 'they only look after the scum who can't be bothered to work' and then 'they support anything or anyone who is not from the indigenous population' ( hate to see that person go on 'Who do you think you are? he might be in for a few shocks).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">So if you read this Mr Hunt, I do believe you go after the Far right vote, your comments do not help build relationships between our many communities and in fact I find your comments embarrassing and would not expect them from any MP- Tory or Labour. At times you sound more like a UKIP candidate than a Tory MP.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a son of a Korean veteran and former Labour Councilor, I found your comment comparing the Ipswich Labour logo to that of the North Korean Workers party disgusting. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a veteran and one who was proud to serve for over 24 years in the army, you remind me of those jingoistic MPs, stood up in Parliament, waving their union jacks as Tommy Atkins is sent off to war, but nowhere to found when he returns.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't mess about the cook- room slops, but prove it to our face</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The widow's uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' chuck him out, the brute!"</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630225480713006589.post-67324026140868085542021-01-31T12:49:00.001+00:002021-01-31T13:56:25.740+00:00Embarrassing comment from an embarrassing MP <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yesterday Tom Hunt, our Conservative MP for Ipswich decided to post a critical attack on me of his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tom4ipswich/posts/1039302033232893">Facebook page</a> - I have been critical of him via twitter, so I must and do accept that I may be </span>criticised<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> in reply, but he decided to not reply on twitter but to use his facebook page, it was not till </span>someone<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> phoned me that I became </span>aware<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> he had done so.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Much of </span>what<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> he said was inaccurate and actually by reading many of the comments to </span>his<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> post it proved my point - he does seem to playing to right wing </span>crowd<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> in fact that comment may have been slightly on the conservative side as many of the comments seem to have come from a 'far right crowd'.</span></p><p>However<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> his strangest comment was one </span>that has<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span>actually<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> upset me - disagreements on political issues are to be expected and are nothing new but this comment was very bizarre and the more I look at it, the more it upsets and angers me;</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">His comment was:</span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"And also , what is it with this bizarre Ipswich labour party banner in his profile picture on twitter that makes it look like he's campaigning for the North Korean Communist party"</b></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now the banner he is on about is the
Ipswich Labour Party banner, and the emblem is from 1924 – 'a quill, a </span>shovel<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> and
a torch’ </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">- in fact when comparing emblems
an old Tory one seems closer to the North Korean emblem than this.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHYZ3aZUf_L5O99I4dwguJAL1A_e6XARk3SAGCdj-dPNqywIxjGR9Q182KSbFvQOU42Hmeb8FT6ypYfE7Z1QOoghitkYlkb3fEQPNcbclNp8k4EU0kuKRVjX_mZSZ0en_4uNGlcsg25sH/s604/lab2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="604" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHYZ3aZUf_L5O99I4dwguJAL1A_e6XARk3SAGCdj-dPNqywIxjGR9Q182KSbFvQOU42Hmeb8FT6ypYfE7Z1QOoghitkYlkb3fEQPNcbclNp8k4EU0kuKRVjX_mZSZ0en_4uNGlcsg25sH/w400-h274/lab2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKFOKPG6JKNffI4kDizGj_EsXbV3mnQvo0TezMyUbLiCkeCGJyOz52DHPkMi8yiOxPvUmQrc1_ogHqFb-ZEK6lVTeHAG5X_tOkWFpyjPwwurtkwGlLpKIrSOMeLKU2PD8B3JLRp4o8x46/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKFOKPG6JKNffI4kDizGj_EsXbV3mnQvo0TezMyUbLiCkeCGJyOz52DHPkMi8yiOxPvUmQrc1_ogHqFb-ZEK6lVTeHAG5X_tOkWFpyjPwwurtkwGlLpKIrSOMeLKU2PD8B3JLRp4o8x46/" width="205" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVeo3UpF2lTPf90umklBpZgwSxcX1LKyYCWNw33V6hQ5GhyphenhyphenEaNjsuq7dpIjr3vlfV5LuE0z1YraztUyJ-elIwSsJS87mfeOmHdZxSLErwUj_LKERSPB8erbsalDCJfM2f50MzeoC8CCR5/" style="clear: right; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="422" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVeo3UpF2lTPf90umklBpZgwSxcX1LKyYCWNw33V6hQ5GhyphenhyphenEaNjsuq7dpIjr3vlfV5LuE0z1YraztUyJ-elIwSsJS87mfeOmHdZxSLErwUj_LKERSPB8erbsalDCJfM2f50MzeoC8CCR5/" width="246" /></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">North Korea and an old Conservative Party </span>emblem<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> - more in common?</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But the more I thought about it the
more it upset, if he had seen the full picture, he would have seen my late father
holding the banner. My dad volunteered for the Army, straight from school and
ended up fighting in the Korean War with the Argyll’s. 31 of his comrades would
not return from South East Asia. So I find it personally disgusting that he
compares my party banner with that of North Korea.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvsO89TprhWJqWo5kA9Ca_p7e9tGumC3WZMglwftAvl8s4aIYwd6-x_HtHj5Z2Mo2AVqWKdNNjbAAY4nhxT8D9h2coxj-7Uspm7ooRXmd_Zm18YBw6OnG11qzvukjj6ZuJW5bLZ0PeD0U/s315/K3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvsO89TprhWJqWo5kA9Ca_p7e9tGumC3WZMglwftAvl8s4aIYwd6-x_HtHj5Z2Mo2AVqWKdNNjbAAY4nhxT8D9h2coxj-7Uspm7ooRXmd_Zm18YBw6OnG11qzvukjj6ZuJW5bLZ0PeD0U/w200-h200/K3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkNfpKzz0bcfcyfK5zvbMNim9XzEc-aDybA4FijfpcNU80Db9IFCzSCx3L5fJqL_KeIRISQNzNv1Sdtqk_V3jBAjOOPiXwRExqzq4qSBlo67qlTu1gMt6mYeVsryApVLwb4howAvJBRdw/s315/K2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkNfpKzz0bcfcyfK5zvbMNim9XzEc-aDybA4FijfpcNU80Db9IFCzSCx3L5fJqL_KeIRISQNzNv1Sdtqk_V3jBAjOOPiXwRExqzq4qSBlo67qlTu1gMt6mYeVsryApVLwb4howAvJBRdw/w200-h200/K2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>My dad in a hospital bed in Japan, after being injured in Korea, and part of a Christmas Card he sent home to Ipswich </i></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I suggest M</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">r Hunt, walks to the far
North East corner of his constituency and visits the Millennium Cemetery, where
he will see a memorial to those from Ipswich who fought in Korea. I am sure my
dad is not the only Labour voter on that memorial and I am sure there will be
trade unions members, socialists, and even Conservative voters, names on that memorial.
They all would understand the threat of North Korea, and am not sure that they
would be impressed with Mr Hunt comparing the two emblems.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9j4w4fGVgq_fl2m3Q1n7_0XNXBrsIxv7-FbDwRUcrgfqC4bXtnMeZhtH5JLS-Dbkxc5TtJzYsT72g0UHXMKCxUQeAMvcotYG4gcThb3OzZgGh2_Cy2zmU9KDv1mTaFcUN7hvBDj_RuPd/s2048/K1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9j4w4fGVgq_fl2m3Q1n7_0XNXBrsIxv7-FbDwRUcrgfqC4bXtnMeZhtH5JLS-Dbkxc5TtJzYsT72g0UHXMKCxUQeAMvcotYG4gcThb3OzZgGh2_Cy2zmU9KDv1mTaFcUN7hvBDj_RuPd/w300-h400/K1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For Mr Hunt to compare the Ipswich CLP
banner with that of North Korea is disgusting and not the sort of behaviour you
would expect from a Member of Parliament. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For over 100 years, thousands of Ipswich Labour members have worked hard to improve the lives of their families and
their friends, many will have volunteered to serve their country, others would have
been conscripted, some would have lost their lives fighting for this country
but that does not seem to bother Mr Hunt, but as a son of a Labour member who
fought in Korea, I am disgusted by his behaviour and actually embarrassed to
think we have this man as our MP.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mr Hunt, I have no doubt in my mind
that it does not matter how long you are the MP for Ipswich, you will never give
as much of your life to the people of Ipswich as my father did – soldier,
veteran, NHS worker, Optician, Charity organiser, School governor, councillor and what I remember most is how he helped the very first Bangladeshi residents settle in
this town where you seem at times intent on stirring up trouble between our various
communities within the town.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Your comments yesterday on Facebook
and your behaviour at times over the last year have been embarrassing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feel free to comment, Mr Hunt – unlike
you I will inform you that I have posted this reply to your initial post.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Alasdair Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554782740632408913noreply@blogger.com2