Oral Answers to Questions

Jack Abbott Excerpts

Wednesday 24th July 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I welcome the hon. Member to his place. Let me be clear: we intend to get Britain building. We will change the planning regime in order to do so; it has held us back for far too long. Young people have not been able to own a home until they are way past the age of 35, denying them the basic dream of home ownership. Of course we will work with communities, but we will take the tough decisions that the last Government ran away from.

[Jack Abbott (Ipswich) (Lab/Co-op)]

Q13. We have much to be proud of in Ipswich, from a thriving arts and culture scene to beautiful parks and a stunning waterfront. Unlike our friends over the border in Norfolk, we also now have a premier league football team again; the Prime Minister is very welcome to join us when Arsenal visit next year. Despite all those positives, after the last 14 years, our town centre is really struggling and desperately needs help. Can the Prime Minister set out to this House the steps that he will take to revive town centres like Ipswich’s?

[The Prime Minister]

I welcome my hon. Friend to his place, and congratulate Ipswich on their promotion. I think it is on Boxing day that they will visit Arsenal. I am going to resist the temptation that he puts in front of me to choose between Ipswich and Norwich, but on town centres, he is right that we need vibrant high streets. We need to make the change that we were voted in to bring about. That is why we will replace the business rates system to level the playing field, and we will absolutely address regional inequality through our local growth plans.