Ipswich: Shadow minster Jack Dromey boosts Labour election bid

SHADOW housing minister Jack Dromey joined Labour Party members campaigning for next month’s local elections in Ipswich.

And he gave strong backing to the borough’s hopes of building hundreds of new council homes in the town.

Mr Dromey joined Labour activists knocking on doors in the Priory Heath area of the town after seeing wasteland behind Bader Close where the council wants to build up to 120 new homes.

He said: “There is a real housing crisis in this country at the moment. Young people are unable to find the deposits they need to get a mortgage for the first time, and the rental sector cannot cope with the demand.

“There is a desperate need for new good-quality social housing and Ipswich Council is showing a real beacon in preparing to build more homes that are so desperately needed.”

Ipswich council leader David Ellesmere – who hopes to be the town’s next Labour MP – said the borough was determined to build family homes that were in great demand.

He said: “We are looking to build family homes with gardens here. I cannot vouch for the size of the gardens, but it is traditional homes that many people want.”

After joining candidates and other supporters for a photo-call, Mr Dromey joined them canvassing local homes in an area that is normally considered safe for Labour in local elections.

There are elections for a third of the borough council on May 3 – and a county council by-election in Bixley.