NHS dentistry in Ipswich
On Tuesday evening I spoke in the Chamber on some of the steps that need to be taken to address the lack of NHS dentistry in Ipswich and East Anglia. As a Suffolk MP I welcome the idea of an East Anglian Training Centre. We were told in the debate that the closest place you can train to be a dentist to East Anglia is currently Birmingham!
I wanted to highlight how the proposed Centre for Dental Development at the University of Suffolk in Ipswich can also play a role. The University Dental Centre could work hand in glove with the Training Centre in Norwich to make sure people are trained locally and stay to work professionally in East Anglia, increasing our dentistry number. This would also ensure that when needed, dentists are able to be pooled to provide services within the NHS.
I was incredibly pleased to hear how positive the Minister for Health, Will Quince, was in speaking about the proposed Centre for Dental Development at the University of Suffolk. While the plans for a new training centre in Norwich are currently under consideration as a long-term project, it was heartening to his view that the Ipswich Centre for Dental Development was a good project that would address this shortage.
Many of you will remember that I’ve already called on the Government to change the rules to ensure that once dental students are fully trained they are obligated to spend a period of time within the NHS before going private. It’s crazy that the taxpayer invests dental training and then once qualified many immediately go private.
Well done to my Norfolk colleague Jerome Mayhew for hosting this debate.
Improve the River Gipping
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.
First Day Back
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:
Queens Speech Reaction
A few thoughts on the Queen’s speech. Will be making a speech about it on Thursday. It was an amazing experience being in the Royal gallery but sorry not to see the Queen who I know we’re all thinking about at the moment.
Supporting Ukraine
I’m proud of the fact that our Prime Minister was the first world leader to visit Ukraine and the first to address the Ukrainian Parliament as well. 
We have heard that President Zelenskyy views the Prime Minister as his most reliable and dependable ally, which is something we can all be proud of.
We want to be as robust and strong in our support for Ukraine as possible, through our military support. This has to be balanced with the fact that we are dealing with a nuclear power in Russia.
Listen to my thoughts above.
Universities in career guidance
In the Education Select Committee this morning, talking about the role of universities in career guidance.
I spoke to the University of Suffolk about this on Friday, where we discussed how they are involved in early careers guidance with schools like Chantry Academy.
I asked about how we can make sure local universities play a positive and active role in linking young people to opportunities and that they give good careers guidance early on. We need universities to focus on enhancing employability of local people as well as supporting businesses rather than taking a ‘bums on seats’ profit orientated approach. The universities’ approach must include making students aware of all the available pathways, and promoting degree apprenticeships and technical skills. That being said, university isn’t for everyone and many can be very successful without attending.
Deterring dangerous channel crossings
I asked the Minister for Tackling Illegal Migration about those individuals who are coming to this country illegally, and how this makes it more difficult for the genuine refugees we should and must help.
Today in the chamber the Nationality and Borders Bill is being debated. The House of Lords has suggested removing a clause which was put in place to deter these dangerous crossings. There is a genuine concern for those putting their lives at risk by crossing the channel in small boats, and disgust towards the evil criminal gangs profiteering off of this. Removing this clause, which differentiates between those who came to the UK legally and those who arrived via unsafe and illegal means, would be a slap in the face to those who follow due process.
Unsurprisingly, Labour will be supporting the Lords amendment and doing nothing to prevent the small boats crossing the channel or safeguard the lives this puts at risk.
Ipswich Polish community
Today at Prime Minister’s Questions, I spoke of how the Ipswich Polish community has stood strong alongside the people of Ukraine.
The political-philosopher Rousseau once said about the Polish people, ‘You can swallow the Pole, but you will never digest them’. I’ve always felt that this quote is very reflective of the Polish people and their history of robustly standing against Russian aggression, and more specifically their steadfast support for their dear allies, the Ukrainian people.
Locally, we have seen the heart-warming generosity of Ipswich people: the Polish Community Hub has raised nearly £10,000 to support a town in Poland which is taking in Ukrainian refugees, predominantly children. Three lorries are taking donations to Lviv, in Ukraine, which were collected from generous donations (including essentials, medication, and bedding).
Ipswich people are going above and beyond to demonstrate their support for Ukraine, including local restaurant owner Julien, who is driving across Europe with donations, Rob and Sharon from the Geek Retreat who are donating their takings to Red Cross Appeal for Ukraine, Maidenhall Residents’ Association, which is taking donations from the community, and Ipswich Town which matched the donations taken by the Red Cross at their Lincoln match, with about £7,000 being donated in total. I am incredibly proud to represent the Town as it demonstrates true Ipswich spirit and generosity towards Ukraine.
I asked the deputy Prime Minister about how the UK is supporting Poland, as it welcomes Ukrainian refugees, and faces security threats of its own.
Supporting Ukraine
When I met four Ukrainian constituents on Friday, they described how grateful they were for this support from the Ipswich community, and particularly the Polish community in the Town. I am very pleased to support Ipswich resident Magda Chambers, who has raised over £8,000 to support Ukrainian refugees, with donations being driven across the Ukrainian border in lorries today and throughout this week.
My constituent Olena told me about her family, in Kharkiv, Eastern Ukraine, which is encircled by Russian forces. I asked the Home Office today about how we can help her family members, and other like them, who are currently in a warzone. I asked about a way to get refugees to safety which does not rely on offers from Putin, for a humanitarian which takes evacuees to Russia or to Belarus.
I also asked, on behalf of my constituent Viktoria, whether the family visa scheme is transferrable to others if one of the family members who is eligible doesn’t want to take the opportunity, so we can help those desperately in need of a safe passage out of the warzone.
I know I speak for my constituents when I say we want to help those fleeing Ukraine, and I am pleased to support the efforts and generosity that my constituents have shown towards the people of Ukraine.
Post Covid Restrictions
On TalkRADIO this afternoon we discussed moving back to normal with no restrictions. I am pleased that we are seeing the restrictions eased, that we are one of the freest economies and societies in the developed world, and that we are leading the world when it comes to vaccine rollout and opening up.
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Today we have seen big announcements from the Prime Minister, outlining our roadmap back to normality. The government will be working with retailers to ensure that tests are still readily available to buy, and they will remain free for those in the most vulnerable categories. Testing has cost the public purse £15.7 billion so far, so it is absolutely right that we step towards balancing this cost with learning to live with the virus.
In the spring, over-75s and high-risk categories will be offered a booster to provide extra protection.