Suffolk County Council Elections - 7 May 2026

Belstead Hills Division - Robin Whitmore

Robin has Iived in Ipswich for all of his 56 years and was born and brought up in Gainsborough Ward. He stood for election in Gainsborough Ward and was second to Labour in the 1994 borough council election when they threatened closure of Ipswich Airport. A member of the Liberal Democrat party and its predecessors since 1984, he formed an Alliance Society at college and after graduating worked for the party as an organiser in the East Midlands until the 1987 General election.

From 1992-1994 he was Business Manager for LiberaI Democrat News. At the 2002 Ipswich borough elections he successfully steered the party to win 4 seats and laid the foundations for the eventual 9 seats they held from 2004- 2011. He has worked as a Political Assistant to the Liberal Democrat Leaders in Chelmsford Borough, Norwich City & the lsle of Wight. More recently he was agent to Sir Bob RusselI MP in Colchester.

  He is currently a part time researcher and supporting artist having retired as a Royal Mail postman in 2023 after 11 years. He’s been married to Hilary since 1988.

Bixley Division - Lisa Weichert

Bridge Division - Henry Williams

Henry writes:

“Residents and business owners across lpswich deserve decent hardworking Councillors like our current Lib Dem Councillors Inga, Oliver and Tim who put the needs of Ipswich residents at the fore-front of what they do. I believe that the people across Ipswich deserve to be listened to in the same way.

Ipswich is a beautiful town. In the past promises have been made that big plans will come to fruition in lpswich. However, the reality has been somewhat different. The plans for the upper Orwell crossing and Cornhill redevelopment ended in disappointment for many residents and business-owners across Ipswich. You deserve better.

A vote for Liberal Democrats is a vote for much needed change in the Borough to fix the mistakes of the recent past. Be ambitious, seek change and look to the future.

Vote Liberal Democrat on May 7th 2026”

Gainsborough Division - Trevor Powell

Trevor writes:

“I have lived in Ipswich for 10 years now and have been asked to stand for election by Ipswich Liberal Democrats. I am very happy to do so and would like to thank the residents who have nominated me.

I know all the members of the Liberal Democrat group on Ipswich Borough Council very well and they all work hard for their ward and Ipswich in general. I have previously served as a District Councillor in Essex and I am confident that I have the skills and experience necessary to serve the area well.

I am retired having worked in the banking and education sectors. I also have experience volunteering with a number of charitable and community organisations.

If elected I promise to do my best for the people of Ipswich, to take decisions based on evidence and to concentrate on getting things done locally rather than grandstanding on national issues.”

Gipping Division - Daniel Davey

Priory Heath Division - Nigel Fox

Rushmere Division - Lucy Drake

Lucy writes:

"I have lived in Ipswich for nearly 40 years and raised my family here. I am a retired town planner who has worked for several local authorities, and for central government as a planning inspector, deciding planning appeals nationally. This has given me a good grasp of how local authorities work, or don't, for the interests of their communities. Since retiring I have led or been involved with several lpswich­based community and environmental projects.

I have been a Liberal Democrat supporter all my adult life and believe that their values of openness, tolerance, a willingness to listen to all sides of an argument and work with others to come to a fair outcome, even if that involves compromise, is the best way to make decisions and achieve change. At a local level, it is especially important to listen to individuals and how 'the bigger picture' is affecting them.

If elected as ward councillor for Rushmere ward I would challenge the Ipswich Labour administration’s policies where they are having unwelcome consequences for the·ward and offer an alternative listening ear, and voice, to local people."

St Clement's Division - Tim Lockington

St Margaret's Division - Inga Lockington

Inga is well known to voters in St Margaret’s Ward having been elected to serve as their Borough and County Councillor for more than 20 years. She is defending her council seat in order to continue to serve St Margaret's residents on the Borough Council, alongside Councillors Oliver Holmes and Tim Lockington.

St Margaret’s residents will be receiving a personal communication from Inga during this election campaign.

Westbourne Division - Martin Pakes

Born in Sweden, Martin moved around a lot in his childhood as his father was a civil engineer. After attending London University, Martin moved to Ipswich, where he has lived for nearly 40 years. Martin was the first Ipswich Borough Councillor for the Liberal Democrats in the 1990s. A familiar face around Westbourne Division, Martin has been campaigning there for the last four years. His major interest areas are the environment and transport.

Westgate Division - Martin Hore

Martin writes:

"Before retirement I worked for 24 years as Suffolk County Council's Outdoor Education Officer. In this role I advised and supported locaI schools in all aspects of educational visits and adventure activities for their pupils. I'm proud that during this time very many Suffolk young people were able to benefit from these opportunities.

In my role at the County Council, I learned about how Councils work and how to get things done. I believe a Councillor's job is to listen to the concerns of local people and make the Council work for you. That' s the Liberal Democrat way.

My wife and I have lived in central lpswich for 35 years. We now live in Valley Road close to the junction with Norwich Road and Chevallier Street. I am very aware of the traffiic congestion in this area and share residents' concerns about air quality. We need to focus very carefully on how to tackle these issues as new housing is built in and around Ipswich which could make things even worse."

Whitton Division - Nick Jacob

Nick has lived in Ipswich for over 40 years and is founder and senior partner of NJ Architects, a practice that has grown and developed over many years and is based in Ipswich. He has been a member of the Liberal Democrats since their inception and he would like to see Ipswich become an even more vibrant, cohesive and attractive place in which to work and live. He has a particular interest in sustainability and the built environment.