Following the decision of Sir Michael Lord to step down at the general election, the Conservatives in Suffolk Central and Ipswich North are currently in the process of seeking a new candidate.
The final six names in the frame are:
- Katy Bourne
- Tim Clark
- Joanna Gardner
- Daniel Poulter
- Dominic Schofield
- Claire Strong
An open primary is scheduled to take place on November 27th to choose the candidate, who will inherit a notional Conservative majority of 7,786.
Saturday 14th November update:
The executive committee decided this afternoon to put all six candidates forward to the Open Primary meeting. Anyone registered as a voter in the constituency is welcome to apply to attend the meeting via email or by applying in writing to: CS & NICA Tickets, 19 The Business Centre, Earl Soham, Suffolk, IP13 7SA.
Tuesday 17th November update:
The association has released the following biographies and photographs of the six finalists:
Katy Bourne Katy is Managing Director of Cienergy Ltd and currently advises start-up renewable energy companies, introducing them to
potential investors. Since graduating from Aberystwyth University, Katy has always run her own business. In 1999 she
started a dance/leisure company which grew to be the second largest in the UK and employed 42 staff. She successfully
sold it in 2005. Katy has a first-hand understanding of the challenges facing small and medium sized businesses, from
start-up to sale. She is determined to put that knowledge to good use in the constituency and to ensure that Suffolk
businesses are positively represented.
At the moment, Katy lives in rural Sussex. She is married to Kevin, an
ex-soldier and Falklands veteran. She has two sons - Will is in his
final year at university studying law and Myles intends to start
Sandhurst next year. Not surprisingly, Katy has a vested interest in
fully supporting our armed services. Being the first member of her family to attend university, Katy knows
how education can change lives. During her twenties, she started a
chain of after-school fitness clubs teaching 5-12 year olds. Today she
continues her close links with education and is a Governor of two
schools. Despite being an active
campaigner and local Parish Councillor, Katy still finds time for
charity. This year she has raised over £5,000 for Prostate Cancer
running the London Marathon and £1,400 sky-diving for the Afghanistan
Trust, helping the families of wounded soldiers returning from active
service. Read more at her website.
Tim Clark "Born and bred in Lincolnshire, my working life has been spent teaching
in a variety of schools, both comprehensive and grammar. I am currently
the Head of a large state school serving a market town and its rural,
low waged surroundings. I worked previously in north Kent and
Essex/outer London. I have been a member of the Conservative Party for
fifteen years. My interests include family and friends, music, travel,
boating, walking and reading. Whilst I have gained tremendous satisfaction from teaching, my interest
in politics has arisen out of my growing desire to want to change many
of the things that affect the lives of all people – law and order, the
health service, education, the economy etc.
"I am not from Suffolk; I have, however, lived and worked in both urban and rural areas, and my work has made me keenly aware of the issues affecting people’s daily lives. My politics stems from the practical experience of working with teenagers and adults from all walks of life on a daily basis; I see myself as an everyday person, doing an everyday job, who now wants to help improve the lives of others. I have always been heavily involved in the communities in which I have lived, from playing the church organ to belonging to community groups; if selected, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich will become my home and my life. It would be a privilege and honour to represent all residents of this varied and diverse part of Suffolk."
Joanna Gardner "I want to put the local community back at the heart of Government.
Politics has become too dominated by Westminster. MPs need to get back
to serving local people and addressing local issues. I want a fair
share of funding and services fit for this twenty first century
constituency. Each community should be able to decide what it needs and
where it wants to spend its money. Over the last twelve years, we’ve
seen services and funding diverted away from the area, for example the
loss of services from Ipswich Hospital. As your MP I will fight and
fight again for all my residents.”
Joanna is a working mother. She is an experienced lawyer now working in a large business. For ten years she was a volunteer on the management board of the local Citizens Advice Bureau. She has just completed her term as Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, raising almost £80,000 for charity. In the General Election in 2001, Joanna fought David Miliband MP, cutting his majority by 8,063. As a local councillor, Joanna has focussed on housing and health and serves on a Post Office Working Group, which are key issues for residents here. With a wide portfolio of public service, campaign experience and as a working mother, she sees herself as the most experienced of all candidates shortlisted. If selected she will involve herself in the community and give up her day job to campaign for residents and businesses.
Dan Poulter "I work on the frontline of the NHS as a hospital doctor. I am also the
Deputy Leader of Reigate and Banstead Council, volunteer my medical and
fundraising skills to charities such as Help for Heroes, and play rugby
and cricket. I am delighted to be invited to Central Suffolk and North
Ipswich because my fiancée Joanna grew up in mid-Suffolk and went to
school in Stowmarket. We stay at Joanna’s parent’s home in Great
Finborough, and if selected, I would be living and working locally by
February and devoting my full energies to the constituency.
"I believe in working in partnership with local councillors and communities to campaign in supportof local businesses during these difficult economic times. I support maintaining high educational standards in local schools, and developing further educational opportunities at University College Suffolk, Suffolk New College and Otley College. I understand how to address the challenges faced by new and developing communities around Kesgrave. I would campaign to protect the Suffolk countryside from inappropriate development, and fight to support rural shops, services, pubs, post offices and GP surgeries, and work with the NFU to support Suffolk farmers. As a doctor, with specialist knowledge of the NHS, and a track record of keeping open frontline hospital services in Surrey, I shall provide a strong voice in the campaign against Labour cutbacks to vital cardiac and cancer care services at Ipswich Hospital and in supporting a viable future for community hospital services at Hartismere Hospital." Read more at his website.
Dominic Schofield Dominic Schofield is 38 years old and was born and brought up in
neighbouring Essex. He attended his local comprehensive and then went
to St Andrews University to study Russian & International
Relations. During this time, he spent over a year in St Petersburg
working as a journalist. Dominic now works as a senior consultant with
one of the world’s largest headhunting firms (Heidrick & Struggles)
where he specialises in finding senior executives and experts for some
of Britain’s largest companies. Prior to this he helped expand his
company into Russia. Dominic is married to Margaret and they have two lovely and lively young daughters (with another arriving in March!). If selected Dominic pledges to move to the area. He and Margaret will
make their home in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich and their children
will attend local schools.
"I will stand up for all the people of Central Suffolk and North Ipswich. I will build my life in the area and will fight for better healthcare for all and more investment in the local infrastructure both to support the rural economy of Suffolk and the economic development of Ipswich. I will oppose plans to move cardiac care from Ipswich Hospital. I believe Britain’s farmers deserve a better deal from Government and that rural communities need defending. Nationally, I believe that only a Conservative Government can tackle our economic crisis and help rebuild our fractured society. ‘As your MP I would strive to be a worthy successor of Sir Michael Lord."
Claire Strong "As one of the finalist for the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
Primary on November 27th, I intend to use my business experience from
the chemical and IT industries, along with many years in local
government as a foundation to building a new career in main stream
politics at Westminster. I currently
live in the village of Holwell in Hertfordshire with my husband and if
selected we will look forward to moving to Suffolk. Having stood in the
last two European elections in this region I spent many hours
campaigning in the area and I know we will have no difficulty making
Suffolk our home. I believe passionately that MPs should live in their
constituencies.
"I will fight tirelessly for the issues that matter to Central Suffolk and North Ipswich by working closely with local councillors and making myself available to constituents by holding regular surgeries. I will use my energy and enthusiasm to be your local champion for retaining local healthcare services, providing decent affordable housing, promoting small business, preventing inappropriate development, improving transport infrastructure and more. This is why I’m standing as a candidate: I want to be your MP. I want to fight for your rural and urban communities both here in the constituency and in Westminster.”
Jonathan Isaby
