Jack Abbott MP

Ipswich rail fares frozen for first time in 30 years Ipswich commuters will not face rail fare increases for the first time in three decades, the Chancellor and Transport Secretary have announced, with the freeze meaning season ticket holders travelling...

I am sure our Government's announcement will come as a relief to people who have had to fork out more and more to travel by rail, but will now be able to keep a little more money in their pockets.

It is a really welcome boost just before Christmas.

www.ipswich.co.uk/articles/ips...

🚉 For the first time in 3⃣0⃣ years, rail fares have been frozen 🧊

It will mean Ipswich commuters with season tickets will save £500.

Contrast that to the previous Conservative Government, where prices rose 63% between 2010-2024.

It is an important measure to help ease the cost of living.

Have your say on how £1.5m should be spent on Ipswich town centre Residents are being invited to complete a survey telling Jack Abbott which projects should receive funding through the Pride in Place programme, from restoring empty buildings to improving public spac...

I will take your feedback to Ipswich Borough Council and it will used to help guide how this investment is delivered.

This is our town and our chance to shape its future.

Together, we can restore pride in Ipswich and create a town centre that is safe, vibrant, and thriving once again.

Pride in Place must reflect the priorities of people who live and work in Ipswich, so now is your chance to shape how this money is used.

Please complete my short survey to share your ideas about how this new funding should be spent 👇

💬 HAVE YOUR SAY 💬

Ipswich will receive £1.5 million in funding over the next two years to revitalise our town centre.

As your MP, I want to make sure your voice is at the heart of these decisions and I have launched a short survey to gather your thoughts and ideas 👇

I also took my job of promoting the new report 'Grassroots Growth' very seriously.

It has got a fantastic array of contributors and talks about how local ownership, co-operation, and empowerment can drive sustainable growth.

It is a must-read: www.party.coop/community/growth

It was a real pleasure to take part in the recent @coopparty.party.coop Annual Conference.

I chaired two panels on grassroots growth and sustainable investment with some brilliant speakers, before having the privilege of introducing my friend, our Party's General Secretary, @fortunejf.bsky.social.

Ahead of the Budget, it was good to meet with leaders from a range of sectors in Ipswich.

It was a really constructive conversation, as we discussed the progress we've made locally, and what we've got to do to address the challenges that face us.

Huge thanks to @birketts.bsky.social for hosting.

Ipswich MP welcomes government ban on ticket reselling above face value Jack Abbott has welcomed new laws making it illegal to resell tickets for live events above their original cost, which the government says will save fans an estimated £112 million per year.

It will be illegal to resell tickets above face value, and this will mean genuine fans will be able to enjoy live events without getting priced out.

And by keeping cash away from touts, people will have extra money to spend at local, grassroots gigs.

Last year, I spoke in Parliament about how ticket touts are ripping off fans, and ripping out the heart of live events.

It is welcome and important that our Government is shutting down this racket to make sure music, comedy, theatre and sport is affordable for everyone.

I would highly recommend the new Bread Bowl Bistro Café on St Nicholas Street.

Their beef stew was exactly what was needed on a cold day like today.

Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian children have been abducted.

Today on World Children’s Day, I am supporting the Bring Kids Back initiative - a call to rebuild young lives shattered by war.

They must come home and be safely reunited with their families.

A year ago today...

Ed Sheeran's surprise gig at the The Baths for kids from local schools - and Lisa Nandy and I!

Since then, important campaigns have come to fruition, from expanding the music education curriculum to clamping down on ticket touting, both issues that Ed has championed.

MP visits Ipswich firm as part of apprenticeship awareness campaign An MP has praised the value of apprenticeships during a visit to a construction firm.

It was a pleasure to meet the Caston's apprentices and hearing how they entered their careers in construction.

There is a wealth of talent in Ipswich and Suffolk. Harnessing that potential will be an important part of driving our local economy forward.

Suffolk boxing star Wardley makes history as he wins world heavyweight title Suffolk's Fabio Wardley has this evening been named as the new WBO heavyweight champion of the world.

🥊 The heavyweight champion of the world, made in Ipswich.

Congratulations Fabio Wardley, you've done our town proud.

Phone and vape shops in Ipswich back new 'unwanted business' rules Phone shops and vape shops in Ipswich have agreed with MP Jack Abbott who backed a programme that allows council's to block 'unwanted businesses'

My priority as Ipswich’s MP is to restore pride and create a town centre that is safe, welcoming and thriving.

Our Government's legislation - currently moving through Parliament - will empower councils to block unwanted businesses and introduce community right to buy and compulsory purchase powers.

OPINION: Clear, Hold, Build: Tackling crime and making our streets safer People in Ipswich want what everyone deserves: safer streets, less crime, and stronger communities, MP Jack Abbott writes.

Clear, Hold, Build is a tactic developed to tackle crime and build more resilient communities.

It rebuilds the foundations of our communities, restores neighbourhood policing, invests in prevention, and deals with the root causes of crime.

And it's working.

My EADT / Ipswich Star column 👇

I loved being back at my old school, Debenham High School, to give the keynote speech at their Commemorative Assembly last night.

It was really special to reflect and offer a few words of advice.

Huge congratulations to the Class of 2025 who received awards and GCSE certificates.

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

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

The revival of Ipswich's town centre is a priority for me, and I've been working relentlessly to boost jobs, investment and footfall, from securing a jobs guarantee from Sizewell C to leading the charge on a UK City of Culture bid which will attract 1000s of people to our town.

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

OPINION: We must deliver homes for armed forces and their families In his column this week, Ipswich MP Jack Abbott remembers Ipswich's veterans and the support required now to support veterans and their families.

Our Government's Defence Housing Strategy marks the biggest urgrade to armed forces family housing in over half a century.

It will finally provide our armed forces and their families homes fit for heroes.

My East Anglian Daily Times / Ipswich Star column 👇

This plan will put an end to the scandal of unfit forces housing.

Our armed forces and their families make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe, and it is only right they have homes that reflect the respect and gratitude this country owes them.

Read more here: www.ipswich.co.uk/articles/nea...

Homes fit for heroes.

I was delighted to meet with Alistair Carns, Minister for the Armed Forces, as our Labour Government launched the biggest upgrade to military housing in half a century.

It means 5,000 homes in the East of England will be modernised, refurbished or rebuilt.

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

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

'It deserves it.'

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

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

Ipswich Town Foundation's family hub is phenomenal, says parent The new Empower Hub provides activities, education and support for families in an area of Ipswich.

I know the difference the Ipswich Town Foundation makes to our town, so I am proud to back the #EFLWeekOfAction and celebrate their incredible work.

From their school programmes to the new Empower Hub in IP2, they are helping families and young people build brighter futures.

On Monday, I attended the Suffolk FutureSkills Fair which welcomed over 3,000 pupils from across Ipswich and Suffolk to explore career opportunities, meet employers and discover new skills.

A huge thank you to all the businesses for their support, and @suffolknewcollege.bsky.social for hosting.

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

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

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

🐶 Research from the RSPCA has shown that 66% of animals are negatively impacted by private firework displays.

Please #BeAKindSpark and Help Quieten the Noise by attending organised events 🎆🐾

Find out more by reading the RSPCA’s
guide here: rspca.org.uk/fireworksImpact