Yesterday, I was delighted to welcome Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer - and the next Chancellor of the Exchequer - to Ipswich.

I wanted to showcase the depth and breadth of talent we have here, so Rachel and I met with over 100 business leaders, some who run small, independent businesses in our town, others who lead large, multi-national organisations.

I hosted this event at one of the most iconic locations in Suffolk. This was the first time in memory that the Labour Party had held a business leaders’ event at this scale in Ipswich, and I wanted it to be a statement of my intent and ambition for our town. Rachel and Sir Keir Starmer have worked hard to rebuild our party’s relationship with businesses on a national level, and I am forging new partnerships locally too.

It is obvious that, after years of volatility, uncertainty and short-termism, businesses want stability, consistency, and long-term, joined-up strategies for growth. That is just as true locally as it is nationally.

That is why Labour is offering a government that is proudly pro-business and pro-worker, in the knowledge that each depends on the success of the other. We will champion British business at home and abroad, and unapologetically support working people, because a strong economy relies on working people with the skills and security to thrive.

We are all suffering the consequences of nearly a decade and a half of Conservative mis-management. The first 10 years we saw flatlining wages and growth, plus an erosion of our public services. Then we saw the chaos of Liz Truss who - cheered on by Conservative MPs - crashed our economy and sent inflation and mortgages soaring. The neverending cost of living crisis is hurting our residents, it is hurting our businesses, it is hurting our town.

It was important that Rachel left Ipswich with a strong sense of the things Ipswich needs to grow, whether that is major investment into our infrastructure after years of neglect, or the changes we require to revive the town centre, such as the reform of business rates.

We can not afford any more wasted years of Conservative MPs complaining about how bad our roads and railways are without putting in the effort to secure the upgrades that we desperately need. And we won’t resolve the challenges that face the high street if those same people repeatedly talk down the town. To attract new businesses and investment, we have to highlight the things that make Ipswich great, celebrate them, promote them, and build on our successes.

We need people in positions of influence to represent the collective best interests in the town, to stand up when it really matters, to do the hard yards in bringing people together, and seeking to persuade them on issues of real importance. Even when we disagree, we need to find compromise and a way forward, otherwise nothing will ever get done. That is the leadership, unity and ambition I will deliver.

It is obvious there is so much talent, dedication and pride in Ipswich, and if we can harness all of this energy, we can lift Ipswich up to the place we want it to be. Yet, the window of opportunity will not stay open forever - we need to grasp the chance we have to create well-paid, secure jobs, generate new investment, and help our businesses grow.

I am proud of Ipswich and I know how much potential we have - with your support we are going to realise it.

Together, we can build a new future for Ipswich.

Jack Abbott is Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Ipswich