Shocked, saddened and beyond despair.

Never again in our lifetimes will we see a Monarch who has given so much to our country and our people. Loved by all. The glue that has bound our Union and Commonwealth together for so long.

Somehow we must find a way to pull together and go on. We will. But it will be hard.

She will live on in our hearts and memories forever.

Today I asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about how to turn around the state of the River Gipping.

More and more constituents got in touch with me over the summer about the River Gipping – full of algae, shopping trolleys abandoned, distinctly unloved. This is a local waterway with a lot of potential for public access and usage, which currently we are not taking advantage of. I want to see this change.

I asked the Secretary of State about how to turn it around and improve the River Gipping. I think it is clear that the local authority, Ipswich Borough Council, need to take responsibility here and help us create a more positive future for the waterways and public access to the river.

Yesterday Parliament came back from recess. I was pleased to get straight off the blocks, posing a question to the Home Office at the very first opportunity. It was great to be called as the 2nd question of this new Parliamentary term.

As many of you will know, over the summer there have been a number of knife attacks in Ipswich. Inter-gang violence, targeting rival members, often erupts in a public space and can have a chilling effect on the wider community. Tackling knife crime, keeping Ipswich safe, and making sure we all feel secure walking about our Town is one of my priorities.

I am pleased that we secured the Safer Streets Fund, which is funding night-time police presence in the Town. However, I think we can do more. Yesterday, I asked the Minister to look favourably on our UK shared prosperity bid, which would help tackle knife crime by increasing day-time police presence in the Town.

In addition to this, I asked the Minister to look at reviewing the National Funding Formula, to make sure Ipswich and Suffolk policing get a fairer deal.

Pleased to hear this announcement following a letter I sent lobbying Ministers in the Treasury, calling for a new surgical hub in Ipswich hospital.

During a visit to the Emergency Department which is expected to open in 2023, I spoke to Nick Hulme – Chief Executive of East Suffolk and North Essex Hospitals Trust – about the possibility of additional funding for a new surgical hub. I am pleased to hear that our lobbying and insistence has paid off, and the Government are investing in a new surgical hub here in Ipswich hospital.

The new surgical hub will be in the Emergency Department, increasing capacity and therefore making it easier for Ipswich Hospital to cut waiting lists. Progress is being made on cutting waiting lists, and I hope this new surgical hub will help further this too.

Very pleased with this announcement, thank you to Nick Hulme and the team at Ipswich hospital, and the Department for Health and Social Care for pushing this forward.

Quick video on my first day back in Parliament after summer recess. Liz Truss has been announced as the new Leader of the Conservative Party and tomorrow she will be confirmed as the new Prime Minister. Here are my thoughts: