A veteran regional political journalist has bowed out after 43 years in the industry, with a call for the Tory Party to return to the centre ground.

Paul Geater retired from the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star yesterday with his final column published on the same day.

In the column, Paul revealed he had once been a conservative but the current state of the party made him “rather sad.”

He also paid tribute to some of his late former colleagues, including David Henshall whom he named “the best permanent editor that the EADT and Evening Star never had.”

Paul, pictured, has worked for Eastern Counties Newspapers’ Group and its successor companies Archant and Newsquest for his entire 43-year career.

He was one of seven trainees on the first ECNG training course in Norwich in January 1982 and is the last to leave the business.

Between 1983 and 1991 he worked at branch offices in Bury St Edmunds, Halesworth and Leiston as a district chief reporter before transferring to the Ipswich office in 1991.

After volunteering to cover the 1992 general election he has specialised in politics ever since, becoming political correspondent for both the Star and EADT in 2010.

Paul wrote in his final column: “Life has certainly changed in EADT journalism since I started at the Bury office in 1982. When I was working in Leiston the following year we would put our stories on the 4pm Eastern Counties bus for them to be picked up in Ipswich. Now my colleagues are using AI to help them out!

“I’ve been specialising, although not exclusively so, in politics and local government ever since the 1992 general election – but it’s a subject that has fascinated me since I was a schoolboy.

“When I was a student at UEA in the late 70s I joined the Conservative Association. I later joined the Shirley Williams/Roy Jenkins SDP – but once I got my dream job as a reporter I was never a member of any party. That’s unlikely to change.

“I must say, though, that looking at the Tory Party now makes me feel rather sad. For the first time ever I think it faces a real existential threat. What is it for?

“I have many contacts within the party who are good people with real concerns about their community. They really do want to serve the people. But the party leadership and many of the party members only seem interested in out-reforming Reform UK.

“What possessed the Tory-led Suffolk County Council to stop flying the rainbow flag it has been proud to show off for several years?

“Frankly if you want to support a party that’s anti-diversity, anti-immigrant and Islamophobic, why support the Nigel Farage Tribute Act when the real thing is on the ballot paper in most elections?

“What this country really needs is a Centre Right party. And it doesn’t have it any more!”

Paul went on to pay tribute to some of his colleagues who are no longer with us including David Henshall, who initially gave him the politics brief.

He wrote: “He was acting editor of the Star in 1992 when I asked him if I could cover that year’s general election. He said: “Do you really want to do politics? Well dear boy get on with it and don’t hash it up!”

Since then Paul has gone on to cover nine general elections, and a parliamentary by-election in Ipswich in 2001, as well as annual council elections.

He won’t be totally turning his back on news, however, as he will be continuing to do some voluntary work for local community radio station Suffolk Sound.