MPs unite for impact
In bright sunshine, in between the showers, a bevvy of Suffolk MPs graced College Green outside the House of Commons for what is becoming commonplace... a county-wide collection of members lobbying together.
New Suffolk Central MP Dr Daniel Poulter (who is a real hospital doctor) tells me that they have come together to champion the causes of healthcare and rural broadband in the county.
The new boys and girl; Ben Gummer (Con Ipswich), Matt Hancock (Con, Suffok West) Peter Aldous (Con Waveney) and Therese Coffey (Con Suffolk Coastal), were joined by veteran MP Tim Yeo (Suffolk South).
What does he make of the young bloods?
Although not so delighted to be the senior citizen, he is thrilled the county has five people elected for the first time.
"I know them all personally and they're going to make a tremendous contribution both to parliament and to the Conservative Party and, above all, Suffolk will be represented by people who really care about the county and who have got its interests at heart," he beamed.
Suffolk's seven MPs are all now Conservatives.
Getting together is a good approach. There's more impact with six or seven signatures on a letter to a minister than you'll ever get with one -
Chloe Smith
Norfolk's MPs were also out in force at a "World Class Norfolk" breakfast, Norwich MP Chloe Smith tells me.
They are used to working in concert and are still a cross-party grouping having two Lib Dems in Norfolk's midst (if the coalition is still cross party. It seems it is when it wants to fight a by-election but not when it is already in power... but I digress).
"A number of us were gathered today with people from across the public and private sector. The fact is that we have a great county with so much going on and so much potential, so much we want to achieve for it."
She doesn't mind Suffolk copying the Norfolk way.
"I think it's a very constructive way to get things done. Getting together is a good approach. There's more impact with six or seven signatures on a letter to a minister than you'll ever get with one."
Although she didn't pass up the opportunity to claim Norfolk was better than Suffolk..
Phew! I was beginning to think this outbreak of collegiality was terminal.
Welcome to the political blog for the East. I'm Deborah McGurran, the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's Political Editor for the region. From Lowestoft to Luton, this is the place for politics with an eastern twist.
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