Meeting the aspirations of Ipswich:

Labour Chancellor announces more investment in vital public services in Ipswich

Last week at Westminster saw the Pre-Budget Report - where public spending and tax plans were set out by Labour's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling.

As ever on these big Parliamentary occasions there was an electric atmosphere in the Chamber. But more important for me and for Ipswich, Alistair Darling made it clear that Labour understands your aspirations by setting out an economic programme that will make a real difference to the lives of families and pensioners.

I think it's vital that we continue to invest in our public services in Ipswich. Our area has come a long way over the last ten years - and for it to keep getting better we need to keep investing.

That's why I'm pleased these plans give more money to local schools so that all of our kids can get a decent start in life.

The extra investment in the NHS will mean that waiting times can be reduced further to 18 weeks, as Labour promised and we can have access to better hospitals and cleaner GP services.

There's also guaranteed neighbourhood policing for every community. Local police who can be contacted personally who will respond to what you are concerned about.

We also need more and better housing in Ipswich. Labour's plans will deliver them and the better transport links to support them.

The Government can set out these ambitious plans only because Labour has built a strong economy over the past ten years with firm control over inflation and growing job opportunities. What a difference from when the Tories were in power. Inflation was nearly 10 %, mortgages soared to 15% and unemployment hit 3 million people.

I think we all realise that we have to pay taxes to pay for public services. But what is important to all of us is that we feel that the tax system is fair.

A lot of people tell me that they are worried that rising house prices mean they won't be able to pass on what they had hoped to their children.

So our new bold tax plans to change the way Inheritance Tax works means a couple will now be able to leave twice as much to their children before they pay tax - that's £600,000 - and from April 2010 it will go up to £700,000.

This will help bring peace of mind to many of the home-owners in Ipswich.

We also need to do more to help families in Ipswich. So the commitment set out by Alistair last week to raise Child Tax Credits well above inflation next April will give families a more secure future.

And the commitment to raising the Pension Credit minimum guarantee to £124 for single pensioners and £189 for pensioner couples from next April will help them too.

So all in all some good news from the Chancellor last week. We are committed to meeting your aspirations - if you want to know any more about the Pre Budget Report drop me a line.

Black hole in Tory spending promises:

The Tories cannot show where the £3.5 billion they need to pay for their Inheritance Tax promise is going to come from.

Last week at their conference in Blackpool, the Tories made tax and spending commitments that leave a £5.4 billion black hole in public finances.

Labour's proposals raise the Inheritance Tax threshold for married couples to £700,000 by 2010 at a cost of £1.2 billion.

This is £2 billion less that the Tories' proposal to raise the Inheritance Tax threshold to £1 million.

Under their plans, £1 billion would go to estates worth more than £950,000, the top 1% only.

This additional £2 billion needed to meet their Inheritance Tax promise added to their other promises in Blackpool leaves a black hole for the Tories of £5.4 billion.

The truth is the Tories have no idea how to pay for their promises on Inheritance Tax and Stamp Duty.

They have at least a £2.9 billion black hole to fill. Over the next few days, they must either come up with alternative ways of funding these promises, or they must admit these promises cannot be delivered.

To fill their £5.4 billion black hole they need to break their promise to raise Inheritance Tax or break their promise to match our investment in education and health.