East of England · England · 73,046Boundary · 2023

Central Suffolk & North Ipswich

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

Represented by Con since 2024. Covers Ipswich, Kesgrave and Needham Market. Population 97,982, notably older (median age 46 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 52% below the national average.

Patrick Spencer is Central Suffolk and North Ipswich's MP in highly unusual circumstances. In May 2025 he was charged with two counts of sexual assault, lost the Conservative whip, and has since sat as an independent. He pleaded not guilty in June 2025 and is awaiting crown court trial. His last recorded parliamentary speech was February 2025, and despite returning to vote in recent months -- backing Lords amendments on pension fund investment powers, English devolution, and the Crime and Policing Bill -- his capacity to represent constituents in any normal sense has been severely curtailed by his legal situation.

His voting record, where data exists, shows a consistently right-leaning, business-friendly profile: 88% aligned with pro-business positions, 87% against tax increases, and strongly opposed to new housing development (0% pro-housing). He deviates sharply from his former Conservative colleagues on landlord flexibility, employer flexibility, and business regulation -- voting more consistently in those directions than even the party average. His participation rate of 68% is below the Commons norm. His 47.9% alignment with an "independent majority" reflects the incoherence of that category rather than any ideological bloc he belongs to.

340
Commons votes
This parliament
£27k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
73.0k
Electorate
2024 GE

Con held for 5 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

Patrick Spencer

Patrick Spencer

Independent

Patrick Spencer is the Independent MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.

Notable Votes

A vote on a 'reasoned amendment' to block the Representation of the People Bill from proceeding to its next stage. The Bill, introduced by the Labour government, includes measures such as extending voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds — a Labour manifesto commitment. A reasoned amendment is an opposition attempt to reject the Bill at Second Reading by citing objections to its principles.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

A vote on an opposition amendment to the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill, which sought to give priority to British citizens in UK foundation and specialty training programmes from 2027. The government defeated the amendment, preferring its own approach to managing medical training places.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

A vote on a Conservative opposition amendment (Amendment 16) to the Pension Schemes Bill. The amendment was proposed by the shadow Treasury team alongside related new clauses, in the context of a Bill aimed at improving pension accessibility and retirement outcomes, though the specific content of this amendment is not fully detailed in the available debate excerpts.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

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Voting at a Glance

Represented by Con since 2024. Covers Ipswich, Kesgrave and Needham Market. Population 97,982, notably older (median age 46 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 52% below the national average.

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Spencer’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.343 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Spencer has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
74
Economy
72
Crime & Policing
41
Employment
38
Constitution and Democracy
22
Education
21
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Representation of the People Bill: Reasoned Amendment02 Mar 2026
Aye
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 127 Jan 2026
Aye
Pension Schemes Bill: Amendment 1603 Dec 2025
Aye
§ 08The local picture.15 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Battisford RingshallDan Pratt608Green Pa
BlakenhamAdrienne Joyce Marriott434Liberal
BramfordJames Caston395Conserva
Carlford Fynn ValleyColin Stanley Hedgley1,272Conserva
Carlford Fynn ValleyDaniel Clery1,388Green Pa
Castle HillIan Stuart Fisher827Conserva
Claydon BarhamDave Penny708Green Pa
Claydon BarhamJohn Charles Whitehead654Conserva
DebenhamTeresa Davis684Green Pa
FramlinghamOwen John Grey1,283Liberal
FramlinghamVince Langdon-Morris1,652Green Pa
KesgraveDebbie McCallum1,958Conserva
Population (2021 Census)
97,982
Electorate 73,046 · 2024 register
Median income
£26,800
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
13.9%
England average 20.0%
Schools
39
30 primary · 6 secondary
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More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.