Lowestoft Labour Party

28/08/2026

10/08/2026

Great to see our local Labour councillors in Gunton & St. Margaret’s supporting grassroots football and investing in our local community ⚽️🌹

Most people in Lowestoft will know someone who has played for Waveney FC, especially as a kid. It has been part of our town for generations and is a real part of our sporting history.

That is why Cllr Graham Parker and I are really pleased to give the club £4,444 from our Enabling Communities Budget.

The money will help improve the pavilion at Saturn Close, one of the club’s main training and match sites.

Waveney FC gives local people of all ages and abilities somewhere to play football, make friends and feel part of a team. Just as importantly, they work hard to make sure money does not stop a child from playing.

It is a proper community club and we are proud to support its future. ⚽️

05/08/2026

A community conservation project is seeking volunteers after receiving funding from East Suffolk Council ward members to begin work on revitalising the much-loved green space.

Cllrs Peter Byatt, Louise Gooch and Malcolm Pitchers have given £2,050 of funding from their Enabling Communities Budget towards the restoration of Kirkley Ham.

Owned by Suffolk County Council, Kirkley Ham is a 7-acre space of land. The Ham, Fen Park and Pakefield Wood form part of a 'green corridor' along Tom Crisp Way. In recent years, the area has become overgrown with bramble and gorse, with incidents of antisocial behaviour, fly-tipping and littering becoming more common.

The Friends of Kirkley Ham are now actively seeking volunteers who are interested in nature conservation to help with the project. Volunteers are needed to help identify and protect the many species of plant and wildlife on the Ham, as well as volunteers to get involved in maintenance activities and working parties.

Read more using the link in the comments.

24/06/2026

15/06/2026

"I know many residents have contacted me calling for restrictions on social media to better protect their children. Today we start that work to give children their childhoods back. This tech was never developed with children in mind. We protect what they watch on film and games with age appropriate ratings. But then they are given a phone with access to all the harmful content in the world.

And if that isn’t bad enough, those same social media companies algorithmically target our children with the most divisive content. And keep them hooked like addicts, scrolling for hours on end. Affecting sleep, study, social relationships and time spent in real life with friends outdoors.

Following a consultation where 9 out of 10 parents said they were in favour of a ban, this Government is acting decisively. Giving parents back control, creating new norms on when it’s time to give kids access to advertising platforms which monetise their childhood"

Jess Asato, MP

I know many residents have contacted me calling for restrictions on social media to better protect their children. Today we start that work to give children their childhoods back. This tech was never developed with children in mind. We protect what they watch on film and games with age appropriate ratings. But then they are given a phone with access to all the harmful content in the world.

And if that isn’t bad enough, those same social media companies algorithmically target our children with the most divisive content. And keep them hooked like addicts, scrolling for hours on end. Affecting sleep, study, social relationships and time spent in real life with friends outdoors.

Following a consultation where 9 out of 10 parents said they were in favour of a ban, this Government is acting decisively. Giving parents back control, creating new norms on when it’s time to give kids access to advertising platforms which monetise their childhood.

04/06/2026

STATEMENT

Responding to today’s guilty verdict of Anwar Mohamed to SENDING AN INDECENT OR GROSSLY OFFENSIVE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION WITH INTENT TO CAUSE DISTRESS OR ANXIETY, Jess Asato MP said:

“I am glad this case has finally come to a close, almost two years after receiving a death threat aimed at me and my children.

“Being able to disagree without resorting to abuse, threats, or intimidation is the cornerstone of a healthy and functioning democracy – one that has become increasingly eroded in recent years.

“People who want to serve their communities and stand for elected office should be able to do so without having their safety put at risk.

“It is of particular importance to me that women are not afraid to put themselves forward for election. The abuse and harassment that women in public life receive is unacceptable and I fear women being gradually pushed out of the public realm altogether.

“Today’s verdict underlines the importance of respect in public life and decency in political discussions.”

15/05/2026

Following last week’s elections to Suffolk County Council, Reform has now appointed Michael Hadwen to lead the Council.

He will run a £850 million budget on issues that matter to all of us – including roads, potholes, buses, local schools, SEND support, adult social care, and libraries.

But who is Michael Hadwen?

He’s another recycled Tory with a history of backing the far-right who jumped ship to Reform to save his career and helped run Kent County Council into the ground.

Given the state he left Kent County Council in, what will he do to Suffolk County Council?

15/05/2026

Great info poster from our Gunton and St Margaret's councillors

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has been in touch following the recent Suffolk County Council elections.

I’ve had a number of residents text and email Graham and I saying they were sorry to see that we are “not councillors anymore” but just to reassure everyone, we are absolutely still your councillors.

Graham and I remain your East Suffolk District Councillors for Gunton & St Margaret’s ward, and we are continuing to work hard for local residents every single day.

I completely understand how confusing local government can be. We have Town Councils, District Councils, County Councils and Parliament, all responsible for different things, so I thought it would be useful to put together a simple guide (below) explaining who is responsible for what and who to contact depending on the issue.

For general constituency and national enquiries, you can also contact our Member of Parliament, Jess Asato MP at [email protected].

Of course, regardless of who is responsible, I will always do all I can to support residents wherever possible and help point people in the right direction.

I would also like to congratulate and welcome Cllr Chris Smith following his election as Suffolk County Councillor for Gunton. I look forward to working collaboratively with him in the future for the benefit of our community.

I’ve attached a simple guide below which I hope residents find useful. Stick it on your fridge (if you want to).

09/05/2026

I am disappointed not to see Labour make more inroads in our local area but I want to thank the many people who supported our wonderful candidates.

Reform UK now take over running the County Council from the Tories, and it is my job to hold them to account on the issues they will now have to deliver on, including potholes, buses, SEND, schools, and libraries among many other issues.

I understand that many residents will be concerned by Reform’s record running councils across England but I remain resolute in my determination to stand up for residents and ensure that our County Council, regardless of what colour it is, delivers for people here in Lowestoft, Beccles, and the surrounding villages.

Talking the national talk is one thing – but walking the local walk is another. Suffolk County Council runs a range of vital services and programmes and so I will be keeping a very close eye, as always, on how they are performing.

As ever, if you have any issues with the County, District, Town, or Parish Councils, please do get in touch with me at [email protected]

Jess Asato, MP

I am disappointed not to see Labour make more inroads in our local area but I want to thank the many people who supported our wonderful candidates.

Reform UK now take over running the County Council from the Tories, and it is my job to hold them to account on the issues they will now have to deliver on, including potholes, buses, SEND, schools, and libraries among many other issues.

I understand that many residents will be concerned by Reform’s record running councils across England but I remain resolute in my determination to stand up for residents and ensure that our County Council, regardless of what colour it is, delivers for people here in Lowestoft, Beccles, and the surrounding villages.

Talking the national talk is one thing – but walking the local walk is another. Suffolk County Council runs a range of vital services and programmes and so I will be keeping a very close eye, as always, on how they are performing.

As ever, if you have any issues with the County, District, Town, or Parish Councils, please do get in touch with me at [email protected]

07/05/2026