The region’s business leaders put Ipswich’s election hopefuls on the spot at the Suffolk Business Exhibition

IPSWICH: Business people seized the opportunity today to question General Election hopefuls from the three main parties in a “Question Time” event as part of the Suffolk Business Exhibition at Trinity Park Conference Centre.

Labour MP for Ipswich Chris Mole went head-to-head with his opponents Tory candidate Ben Gummer and the Liberal Democrats’ Mark Dyson, answering questions on a range of topical business issues.

They were joined on the panel by Julie West, chief executive of regional food and drink promotional group Tastes of Anglia, and Duncan Brodie, business editor at the East Anglian Daily Times.

The Question Time event was a first for the annual Suffolk Business Exhibition.

The exhibition is organised by ISSBA (Ipswich & Suffolk Small Business Association) and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by accountants, PKF and the East Anglian Daily Times.

It provides a networking opportunity for businesses throughout the region and this year attracted unprecedented interest, with more than 120 exhibitors represented.

Sponsors of the exhibition include Archant Suffolk, Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council, BBC Radio Suffolk, Picasso HR, Scrutton Bland, Jackaman Smith & Mulley, Business Link, Dummett Copp, React Computer Partnership, BT Local Business and Trinity Park Conference Centre.