The Conservative candidate for the Ipswich seat in the general election on July 4 has yet to confirm his participation in one of a series of hustings organised by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.

Tom Hunt - who is defending his 5,479 majority - has yet to register to take part in the Ipswich debate, which is due to take place online later this month (June 25).

Chamber members will get to grill candidates at a series of four online hustings - all of which take place between 5pm and 6.30pm.

Jack Abbott (Labour), Terence Charles (Heritage), Adria Pittock (Green) and James Sandbach (Liberal Democrat) have signed up to take part in the Ipswich hustings.

Suffolk Chamber said the aim was to bring the chamber’s members and parliamentary candidates together to discuss the key issues impacting on future sustainable business growth in the county.

The Ipswich hustings - in association with the University of Suffolk, Suffolk New College and Ipswich Central - was originally due to take place on June 12 at the university.

But it had to be postponed as the chamber had not received confirmation of availability from all candidates. It has now been rescheduled to  June 25 online.

The West Suffolk hustings on June 18 will include Henry Batchelor (Liberal Democrat), Rebecca Denness (Labour), Mark Eriera-Guyer (Green), Ivan Kinsman (Social Democrat), Luke O’Brien (Independent), Katie Parker (Independent) and Nick Timothy (Conservative).

The following day (June 19) it will be the turn of Waveney Valley candidates Scott Huggins (Reform), Gurpreet Padda (Labour), Adrian Ramsey (Green), Richard Rout (Conservative), Maya Severyn (Social Democrat) and John Shreeve (Liberal Democrat).

The Lowestoft debate featuring Lowestoft: Peter Aldous (Conservative), Jess Asato (Labour), Toby Hammond (Green) and Adam Robertson (Liberal Democrat) is due t take place on June 24.

Suffolk Chamber members can reserve their places by going to: https://my.suffolkchamber.co.uk/events.html

Suffolk Chamber is surveying all parliamentary candidates to find out the extent to which they are in agreement with this 15-point programme.

The research results will be shared with its members initially and then the whole of the county’s business community to help them make informed electoral decisions.