I am increasingly dismayed by the delays to the opening of the lifts at Stowmarket station. The new footbridge and lifts were installed at New Year, already behind schedule, and I was assured that after undergoing safety testing they would be opened to the public. Some nine months later, however, the lifts are still not operational and regrettably passengers have been left in the dark about the reason for the delays. I have written to Greater Anglia to express my frustration and the frustration of residents, and following my request Greater Anglia has now affixed notices to update passengers. Notices are helpful, but it’s a working lift that is needed. I am told the new target date is late Autumn. I will keep pushing the rail operator to honour that.

During my second full year as your MP, my team and I completed 8,433 items of constituency casework, we held 15 advice surgeries, we visited 80 local businesses, charities, constituents and other local stakeholders, including 14 schools, and we held 8 “Meet Your MP” events attended by over 220 residents.

It has been the honour of my life to have spoken up for the residents of Stowmarket in the chamber on 178 occasions, on topics including access to NHS dental services, end-of-life care, defence and national security, rural crime, clean energy, student loans and water ownership, and to have voted 246 times. I put questions to the Government on your behalf on 67 occasions including my first question at PMQs about the future of the NHS and the implications of proposals made by some of my parliamentary colleagues for an insurance-based system which, the PM and I both agreed, would wreck our beloved NHS.

It is always a pleasure to visit Stowmarket Men’s Shed, catch up with Barry, Bill and the team and meet some of the 38 members who regularly attend. The group is about far more than woodworking. Members build everything from bird boxes and bug hotels to benches and bespoke projects for local businesses and community groups, while providing a welcoming space where people can learn new skills, make friends and support one another. Men’s Sheds are a wonderful example of community support in action, helping to tackle loneliness, improve wellbeing and keep people active and connected. A huge thank you to Barry, Bill and everyone at Stowmarket Men’s Shed for the warm welcome and for everything you do for our community.

If you live in Stowmarket and you want to contact Peter, you can do so by emailing peter.prinsley.mp@parliament.uk