Suffolk Chamber of Commerce statement on delay to Mayoral elections until May 2028

John Dugmore, chief executive of Suffolk Chamber:

“Suffolk Chamber is disappointed that political uncertainty seems to be being added to the already heady mix of economic challenges currently facing Suffolk businesses. We are especially concerned both at the lost opportunities over the next two years at least for the prospective Mayor to add weight to our longstanding infrastructure asks, and also the future of some skills and public sector-funded business services that support place based economic growth. 

“The Government needs to be both much clearer in its communications on this issue and braver in trusting Suffolk and the East to have more control over its economic growth ambitions. The fact that Suffolk and Norfolk will not be able to bid for Government funding earmarked only for areas that have a Mayor reinforces the sense that we are at the back of the political queue.

“In short, this announcement appears to suggest both a weakness of purpose and a certain contempt for Suffolk’s hardworking business owners and management teams.”