David Ruffley

David Ruffley MP visited the Guildhall, Bury St Edmunds, on 4December and praised the work being carried out on the historic building. Widely regarded as the oldest complete civic building in England, the Guildhall is of regional and national importance. It has played a vital role in the history of Bury St Edmunds, from its medieval roots to its use as a Second World War operations room.

Speaking at the Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 10 December, David Ruffley MP set out a ten-point plan to help small businesses. David said that the Government would:

Ruffley Goes Back To School: A Question Time with Sixth Form Students; and a Meeting with the Head about Academy Status

David Ruffley MP will visit Stowmarket High School on Friday 4 February 2011. He will take questions from pupils, aged between 16 and 18, on the future of education. Mr Ruffley will also be meeting the Headteacher and Chair of Governors to discuss the Government's radical education reform, including new 'Academy' status.

David Ruffley MP to Tour West Suffolk College and Discuss Funding

David Ruffley MP will visit West Suffolk College on 28 January to speak to staff and pupils. The College, based in Bury St Edmunds, but with venues across Suffolk, provides full-, part-time and adult education as well as apprenticeships and training. It has a student body 15,558 strong, 480 staff and a turnover of £27 million- it is regularly placed within the top 5% of colleges in the country.

David Ruffley MP Launches New Suffolk Radio Slot

David Ruffley MP will begin a regular half hour show on Bury St Edmunds community radio station RWSfm on 2 February to provide information and respond to questions from his constituents.

David Ruffley MP Hosts a Discussion with Saudi Arabian Statesman

David Ruffley MP, Treasurer of the influential Henry Jackson Society, chaired a Question and Answer session with Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, the former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to both the United Kingdom and the USA, and former Director of the Saudi secret intelligence services. He is one of the key experts in Saudi foreign policy.

David Ruffley Supports Holocaust Memorial Day

On 24th January David Ruffley MP pledged commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day by signing a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons to honour those who perished in the Holocaust.

David Ruffley MP will be celebrating England's original patron saint, St Edmund, this weekend. David will be joining BBC Radio Suffolk's Mark Murphy who is broadcasting a special programme from St Edmundsbury Cathedral between 9am and noon on Saturday 20 November.

On the morning of Sunday 21 November David will be attending the Annual St Edmunds Day Service with the Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Councillor Ian Houlder, at St Edmund's Catholic Church, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds.

At Justice Questions on 23rd November 2010, David Ruffley MP questioned the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, on the continuing controversy over giving prisoners the vote.

Ruffley proposed a radical solution for dealing with the problem:

Mr Ruffley: 'On 13 November I chaired a summit meeting of the Chief Executives of fourteen Suffolk Third Sector bodies to discuss the Big Society and Suffolk County Council's radical New Strategic Direction programme to contract out local public services.
Third sector bodies in Suffolk are very keen to bid for these contracts. But they are concerned that unscrupulous large corporate prime contractors and a crude payment by results regime could fatally damage their cash flow.