He was the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for the constituency of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk having first taken his seat at the 1997 general election .
Suffolk encompasses Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket .
He was the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for the constituency of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk , which encompasses Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket , having first taken his seat at the 1997 general election .