MP not surprised by web poll

MP Chris Mole today said he is neither surprised nor concerned about the fact that 89 per cent of people in an Evening Star web poll branded him an “Ipswich zero”.

The poll, on The Star website for three days, recorded 252 votes - 26 agreed with idea that Mr Mole is an 'Ipswich hero' while 226 went for 'Ipswich zero'.

He also said he was not worried in the slightest about the fact that nine out of 15 people The Star stopped in the centre of Ipswich did not recognise a picture of him and eight of those had never heard his name.

Mr Mole said of the web poll: “There's a surprise! A tiny group of 230 people clicking on a website? I'm entirely unsurprised.”

And commenting on the lack of recognition with people in the street, he explained that the figure was in line with national surveys of the number of people who know who their MP is.

When asked if he was happy with being in line with the national average he said: “Yes. I would be worried if it was lower than that.”

On Tuesday Mr Mole was branded “a disgrace” by health protester Michael Cox who said he was appalled by Mr Mole's attitude to the dire state of the health service in Suffolk.

Mr Mole said: “I continue to work hard for constituents and encourage them to get in touch with me.

“I will soon be working on the 6,000th case to come through my office.”

Mr Mole has been Ipswich's Labour MP since November 2001.

One of his supporters, county councillor Bryony Rudkin, said: “Chris Mole works very hard for Ipswich. He has brought Ipswich matters to the attention of national government and to other important organisations. On issues like health he looks at the proposals to see how they will affect his constituents rather than just making a knee-jerk reaction.”

But Paul West, Conservative opponent said: “I do think the time has come for Mr Mole to raise his game.”

Weblink: www.eveningstar.co.uk