Candidate Profiles

Alison Owen – Cornard & Sudbury East Division

Alison was born in Great Waldingfield and she and her family have lived in or near Great Cornard and Sudbury for most of her life.

She worked at Delphi for almost 35 years.  For the last ten of those years she was a trade union official and built a reputation as a  tough negotiator with broad shoulders and a big heart.

Her experience fighting injustice as a union rep led her into local politics and Alison has been a Sudbury Town Councillor and a Babergh District Councillor since 2019.  She was elected Deputy Mayor of Sudbury in 2023 and Mayor the following year.

As a councillor Alison has worked on Planning, Finance, Environment and Licensing and her many successes include tackling the blight of fly-tipping in her Sudbury East Ward.

She’s currently campaigning for better bus services around the Cornard and Sudbury East estates, pushing for the County Council to fix the roads and campaigning for more provision and opportunity for young people.

Aside from her council work, fundraising and campaigning, Alison played a key role in the Sudbury Town Carnival and is a regular volunteer at GoStart Community Transport.

Alison’s lifelong involvement with the people of Great Cornard and Sudbury coupled with her political and trade union experience will make her a powerful advocate for the community on the County Council.

“People here know me.  I don’t just talk. I listen and I get stuff done. I never give up and I don’t let people down”, she says. “I love our community and I want to help make it a safer, more prosperous and more united place.”

Alison’s immediate priorities include:

• Potholes
• Bus services
• SEND – Special Educational Needs
• Social Care
• Safer Streets

Adrian Stohr – Sudbury West Division

I grew up locally and Sudbury has been home for 25 years. My wife and I were married in St Gregory’s Church and we raised our three kids here.

For many years I ran a photography business in the area. Now I work on the shop floor at Nestle Purina. I am also a GMB Branch Secretary and hold a number of other regional and national trade union roles.

I have been a campaigner and local activist for years and am currently a Sudbury Town Councillor and Deputy Mayor.  Later this year I will become the town’s Mayor.

I know what it takes to run a business. I know what it’s like to be an employee.

As a local politician, I know how to get things done for individuals, for families and for businesses.

For me that always means putting people first, supporting the public services we all rely on, backing working families – not undermining them, providing proper support for those who need it and making sure no one is left behind.

I’m proud to stand for Labour, as a trade unionist and someone who has consistently spoken up for working people.  And I am really proud of Sudbury.  It’s a great town.  I want to work with the people of Sudbury to make it even better.

As a county councillor my priorities will include:

• Mending our roads & ensuring it’s done properly
• Improving bus services, especially around the estates
• Helping families access the SEND support they need
• Sorting Social Care and standing up for public services
• Ensuring our town is safe, clean and thriving

Emma Bishton – Peninsula Division

Emma has lived in South Suffolk for 25 years. Raising a family. Working in the NHS and local schools. Delivering public health services, teaching and helping people make music. She has also been a Labour activist for 21 years. Listening, campaigning, taking action.

She was Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for South Suffolk at the 2024 general Election where she narrowed the Tory majority over Labour to 3,000 – down from 13,000 in 2019.  She is currently Women’s Officer and Policy Officer for the South Suffolk Constituency Labour Party.

She believes in a compassionate and hopeful Britain with an NHS and public services that really work and equality of opportunity for all. She is also passionate about protecting our environment and about fairness and integrity in politics.

Rupert (Ian) Perry – Cosford Division

Rupert has lived in Monks Eleigh in Cosford Division for 12 years and serves on the Parish Council with responsibility for planning.  Before moving to Monks Eleigh Rupert was a member of Islington Borough Council in London for many years.  During his time as an Islington councillor, he led on Education, Environment, Planning, and Regeneration, and served as Mayor.  Ian was also Chair of the North London Waste Authority.

Rupert says: “Now we have a Labour Government, we need more Labour councillors in Suffolk so that we can work together to improve services for all who live in the county and preserve our beautiful countryside for our grandchildren.”

Lindsay Francis – Constable Division

Lindsay has lived in Higham in Constable Division since 1997. She worked in Ipswich as a highly successful corporate solicitor for 30 years, gaining wide experience of employment, property and insurance law.  Through her work she gained deep insight into regional business and the local economy. Outside of work Lindsay was a school governor at Saint Mark’s Primary School in Ipswich for 16 years.

More recently, Lindsay has been actively involved in supporting refugees in East Anglia. She set up and leads a community support group which provides housing and support for an Afghan family in Colchester.

Lindsay says: “I want the decisions and policies of our County Council to be led by Labour values:  fairness, compassion and opportunity for all. Suffolk County Council should be focused on delivering for all of the people who live here.”

Graham Manuel – Brook Division

Graham was born in southwest Ipswich and previously represented the voters of Whitton and Whitehouse as a borough and county councillor. He is now retired and spends much of his time working in the voluntary sector including leading rambles across South Suffolk and North Essex.  He is also a life-long supporter of Ipswich Town.

Graham looks forward to being a county councillor for Brook Division – working with a Labour Government to get things done properly after years of Tory neglect.

He says: “ I would like to see much more of our countryside opened up, in a sensible way, for the enjoyment of ordinary people by extending the rights to roam.”

Matthew Marshall – Melford Division

Matthew lives in Leavenheath, on the border of the Melford Division, where he has been an active member of the Labour Party since 2019. Matthew’s career began in the electricity supply industry and spanned international economic development and the global insurance business, culminating as a representative of UK interests at the European Commission, in the USA and at the United Nations.

Mathew says: “If I get elected my priorities will include getting the County Council to stimulate green growth in Suffolk, to develop social housing and to restore the education infrastructure.”

Chris Mills – Stour Valley Division

Chris grew up in Newton Green and Assington. He started his working life learning a trade with his father’s building business. He then went on to do a university degree in Animation Design.

After university, Chris worked in retail and manufacturing and is now training as a driving instructor.

Chris said: “Councils and public services need investment to undo the Tory austerity years. Only a Labour government can sensibly make this happen.”

Jane Wakeman – Hadleigh Division

Jane is a retired teacher who has lived in South Suffolk for almost thirty years. She spends much of her time contributing to community life as a parish councillor and as a volunteer at her local library. She also works ‘behind the scenes’ fundraising and seeking grant applications for a local charity.

Jane is keen to see people in Hadleigh benefit from the additional funding the government is providing to support SEND provision as well as training opportunities for young people in the area.

When library services in the area were threatened, she actively campaigned to ensure that all services were fully maintained. She will use that experience to represent the people of Hadleigh, addressing the problems caused by over a decade of under-investment in local services and infrastructure, including improving the maintenance of our roads.