Yesterday, Darren Jones, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, visited Ipswich.

Darren is, in effect Rachel Reeves’ ‘number two’ in the Shadow Treasury team, and is set to play a crucial role in the next Labour government, should we win the next election.

When I invite influential Labour figures to Ipswich, it is never about a photo op - the most important thing is that they hear from local people, businesses and organisations about what life is like in our town at the moment. I want them to understand more about the barriers that are facing us, and how Government support can help unlock our potential.

When Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, came to Ipswich, we talked to local shop owners and Ipswich Central’s Street Security team about how we could revive Ipswich town centre and make our streets safer.

When it was Wes Streeting’s turn, we visited Ipswich Hospital and a group of young families, discussing how he as a future Health Secretary could cut waiting lists and improve access to services.

And in February, Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor, met with over 100 business leaders to lay out Labour’s plans for the economy and hear how we can better support Suffolk’s businesses to invest, create new jobs, and grow.

We packed a lot into yesterday’s visit, and I’m grateful to Darren for the significant amount of time he spent listening to a range of people. Nothing beats knocking on doors and talking directly to residents - it is something we do all year round and we have spoken to thousands of people over the past few weeks alone. Darren was able to hear about the issues that concern people on Hawthorn Drive and he will take those back to Westminster with him.

Given the visit was centred around the ‘green economy’, Darren also met residents who had had their homes ‘retrofitted’ by Ipswich Borough Council, to learn about how those upgrades had benefited them.

Next stop on the Tour of Ipswich was Suffolk New College at their Net Zero Skills Centre. For an area like ours who wish to specialise in renewable energy and clean technology, we desperately need to upskill our current and future workforce so the thousands of jobs that will be created over the coming years will be filled by local people. From hybrid and EV car maintenance to insulation, from heating pumps to solar panels, the Net Zero Skills Centre will help people develop the skills we need. It was inspiring to see students so passionate and enthusiastic about their future.

In the evening, we met with dozens of businesses and organisations involved in our local ‘green economy’ at the University of Suffolk. Whether it is energy companies, businesses looking to decarbonise their operations - such as transport and logistics firms - or schools, colleges and our University, all have a crucial role to play in a cleaner, more prosperous future for Ipswich and Suffolk as a whole.

As we saw when energy bills skyrocketed, the energy transition is both an economic and environmental imperative. We urgently need greater energy security and to produce cheap energy which is made-in Britain. Our poorly insulated housing stock means that we are leaking money as well as energy through our walls and our roofs, and we will miss out on more local jobs and investment if we do not grasp the opportunities in front of us.

Britain can become a clean energy superpower, and Suffolk can help drive a decade of renewal. We have all the foundations right here, and with vision, a strategy and determination, we can realise our potential. I am so excited and ambitious for our future.

Jack Abbott is Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Ipswich