Suffolk hitting back - Miliband

SUFFOLK is moving forward - that's the view of foreign secretary David Miliband who visited the county to see the progress being made in overcoming the economic downturn.

And he said the Evening Star's Fightback campaign was a model for all other media organisations to follow.

“It is a not `all is doom and gloom' campaign. The Evening Star is telling the truth - that not everything is perfect but equally Britain is not going to Hell in a handcart.

“There is a lot to be proud of in Britain and its communities,” said the Foreign Secretary who added: “The Evening Star's outstanding campaign is why I am a great advocate of local newspapers.”

Mr Miliband enjoyed a whistle-stop tour yesterday as part of the launch of the government's new Building Britain's Future initiative.

The minister visited BT's high-tech Adastral Park facility in Martlesham Heath before he headed to Northgate Sports Centre to see how the East of England was preparing for the 2012 Olympics.

Mr Miliband also toured Ipswich's regenerated waterfront, spending time at University Campus Suffolk, before fielding questions from representatives of the voluntary, business and public sector at the Town Hall.

And the foreign secretary's verdict was resoundingly positive.

He said: “Suffolk is certainly moving forward.

“The university is an emblem of that, as are the businesses in the area. What is striking is the assets Suffolk has.”

Mr Miliband said great strides had been made in the county since the last time he was here three years ago.

“There is physical evidence of progress and of a real confidence,” he said. Suffolk believes in itself.”

During his question and answer session at the Town Hall, Mr Miliband highlighted the ways in which the East of England was steadily emerging from recession.

Is Suffolk well-placed to ride out recession? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk