Paul Geater

@RichardRout @KierenClayton @Mark_Yale @SuffolkTories @geoffholdcroft See my last column. Why vote for the Nigel Farage Tribute Act when the real thing is on the ballot paper. Where's the rainbow flag, Richard?

A solid day out on the doorstep - first with the excellent Jo Rayner in Bury St Edmunds, ahead of the Tower Division County Council by-election on 3 July. Then on to Haughley to support @KierenClayton, in advance of Thursday’s election to Mid Suffolk District Council.

I'm coming off Twitter but I know @greateranglia haven't gone on Bluesky yet so I'll have to break my boycott to tell them what a bloody brilliant guard Derek is. Get him to show all his colleagues how to make passengers feel that little bit better.

Just joined Bluesky. Same handle. @Geates. See you on the other side.

@benp_norton 10 years is a long time. Things change. Look at Sainsburys in town centre. You can't buck the market and town centres everywhere are changing. Bend . . . or break.

@Geates A ten year stay of execution. Maybe I’m pessimistic, but it is a slow death rather than a fast one.

REVEALED: M&S announces new superstore plans at Toys R Us creating 90 jobs ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24595077.…

@benp_norton It's not the same. But it's better for the town centre than what has happened in Colchester, Northampton, Swindon, Peterborough, Cheltenham, Aberdeen, Crawley and more. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good! Nowhere else got a deal like Ipswich

@Geates For clarity, a click and collect store with food hall attached is NOT the same, and will not form the draw to the town that an anchor store provides.

The new Lidl supermarket at Anglia Retail Park on the north west edge of Ipswich is set to open at the end of the month. ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24705540.… 👇 Full story

Ipswich's controversial bauble Christmas tree has been scrapped after it was damaged in January's storm - so it will not return to the Waterfront. ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24704650.… 👇 Full story

Why does it take Suffolk's councils so long to do anything? The problem seems really bad in Ipswich but bureaucracy seems to strangle the life out of every authority! ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24703131.… 👇 Full story

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds will be amongst the first to be rebuilt. eadt.co.uk/news/24689229.… 👇 Full story

Taxing company profits would have been a fairer way to raise £40bn in extra taxes in the Budget, says a haulage firm boss from Felixstowe, Suffolk eadt.co.uk/news/24689746.… 👇 Full story

Business owners across the region are set to suffer from rising national insurance contributions announced in yesterday's Budget. eadt.co.uk/news/24687518.… 👇 Full story

Increases to capital taxes had been widely signalled before the Budget, and it’s probably fair to say that despite the raft of measures announced, it is not as bad as it could have been. eadt.co.uk/news/24689641.… 👇 Full story

Rachel Reeves' first budget sees taxes rise - but should bring more investment into key Suffolk infrastructure. eadt.co.uk/news/24689742.… 👇 Full story

This year's budget marks a radical change in direction for Suffolk and the UK - will it be good for the voters in the long-term? eadt.co.uk/news/24687420.… 👇 Full story

@SooThomas I still don't see why ministers think the self-employed aren't working. A bit more fairness by putting up tax rates for those earning twice the national average salary would be better than penalising self-employed. But they're too terrified of editors of Mail, Torygraph etc.

@Geates Cabinet ministers get payslips so I guess they are working people…

Isn’t a working person an employee. Someone employed to do a job for a salary/wage.

@SooThomas I think all the discussions on this suggest ministers don't really appreciate the pressures on very small businesses

@Geates I was asking the question having looked at the definition in various places (googling) …employee was the answer. I suppose on the basis of it being the employee the answer would be the two baristas and the plumber’s assistant?

Interesting new bread bin!