Meet the candidate: Neil MacDonald

On Thursday, 7 May, Ipswich residents will head to the polls for two local elections on the same day — one for Ipswich Borough Council, the other for Suffolk County Council. Neil MacDonald is standing for Labour and Co-operative Party in the St. John's ward, contesting one of 16 borough council seats up for election across Ipswich.

As an apolitical publication, we sent every candidate standing in the town the same five questions, and we're publishing every response in full, without editing, so that residents can hear directly from the people asking for their vote. No candidate receives more or less prominence than any other. This is what Neil told us.

Tell us a bit about yourself — who are you, what's your connection to your ward/division, and why do you want to become/remain a councillor?

I've lived in Ipswich all my working life and used to work at BT Adastral Park. My family is very settled in the East side of town. I have represented the St Johns ward since the year 2000 and became Leader [of Ipswich Borough Council] in 2023.

I'm proud of the work that the Borough has done recently: building new council houses, bringing Jamacia Blue and Lovisa to the town centre, providing new play areas, refurbishing the Regent, bringing the first Portal to the UK, converting the former sugar beet site to an Industrial Park and being part of the City of Culture bid. I want to carry on and do more to give pride back to Ipswich.

What are the three biggest issues facing your ward/division right now, and what would you do about them if elected?

There appear to be constant roadworks in the ward at the moment! However, it is the closure of the Orwell Bridge and A14 around Ipswich that brings the whole town to a standstill. Ipswich needs a Northern Bypass as it is the only realistic option to ensure long-term traffic flow. Labour MP Jack Abbott has re-energised the Bypass campaign, and every Labour councillor in Ipswich supports this crucial project.

Potholes are a constant frustration for residents, as is obstructive parking at junctions and bends. The County Council fix one pothole, but leaves the one next to it, surely knowing that they will be back shortly.

One of the biggest changes in my time as a councillor is the increase in private rented accommodation. I'm delighted to see the Renters Rights Act become law. It will end no-fault evictions and rebalance the rights of tenants and landlords, and ensure that all landlords must maintain decent homes and address hazards promptly.

Suffolk is in the middle of significant change — from the local government reorganisation creating new unitary authorities to ongoing pressures on housing, transport and public services. What's your view on how these changes should be handled, and what role do you see a local councillor playing?

Local Government Reorganisation will be simpler for residents with a single point of contact where you live. No more confusion over responsibilities.

Councils will be simpler, more clearly accountable and will save money, so more can be invested back into services.

LGR will mean the creation of a Town Council for Ipswich - a local elected body with tax-raising powers and powers to provide, maintain and manage some facilities. The Mayor of Ipswich will be part of the Town Council.

Local councillors will be vital for the reorganisation. It's very important that election candidates are firmly rooted in their local area to provide a voice for their local community. It's not a job for someone parachuted in at the last moment.

What do you consider your most significant personal, professional or community achievement — and what does it tell voters about how you'd approach the role?

I have grappled with many knotty problems by setting clear direction, working with partners and experts, avoiding quick fixes and focusing on the long term.

Rough sleeping and homelessness have been a problem for some years. I became involved in developing a strategy to tackle this. More temporary accommodation for homeless people, more outreach workers, more move-on accommodation and microhomes at Whitton Church Lane, supporting people for two years so they can then manage their own place.

Housing First for the most chaotic people, giving them a home with personalised support – 28 people in Ipswich are supported in this way.

Strategically, the answer to homelessness is more homes. I am delighted that IBC has built 567 council homes since Labour took control of IBC. Over 170 more are planned.

There are still homeless people and rough sleepers, but I dread to think what it would be like without these interventions in place.

If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to residents in your ward/division? How can people contact you now, and how do you plan to keep in touch if you win?

People seem to be able to contact me! My details are publicly available on the council website. Labour councillors regularly knock on doors through the year and deliver leaflets with locally tailored information.

Want to hear from the other candidates standing in St. John's ward — and across the rest of Ipswich? We're publishing every response we receive in full.

Polling stations open at 07:00 and close at 22:00 on Thursday, 7 May, with results expected on Friday, 8 May. To vote in person, you will need a valid form of photo ID — if you don't have one, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at gov.uk before 17:00 on Tuesday, 28 April. The last day to register to vote is Monday, 20 April. For a full breakdown of every candidate standing across Ipswich and all the key deadlines, read our complete guide to the May elections.

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