The local elections in England this year have been different, not least because a number of areas – including Essex – saw county council elections postponed by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Angela Rayner MP, while Essex County Council’s application for local devolution in the county is considered.
The decision not to hold elections in Essex means we have been onlookers to what has happened elsewhere, ten months into the Labour Government’s term of office and with tensions running high over cuts to winter fuel payments and an increase in the cost of living.
I knew these elections would be tricky for the Conservatives too, not least because the last county council elections in 2021 were very good for us and we had many seats to win or lose.
However, as the general election last year was our worse ever election defeat it was no surprise that less than a year after we have more to do to prove to voters that our Party is changing under new leadership. We are still in the early stages of a long-term plan to renew our party through our Policy Reform Programme, and I am proud to be part of the team making that happen.
The Labour Party won a landslide at the General Election but have quickly squandered public goodwill. This is a damning verdict on Labour and Keir Starmer’s leadership.
I know I, and my fellow Conservative MPs, councillors and activists need to continue to work hard to renew our party, rebuild trust and demonstrate how we have changed - that’s the task we are all getting on with in the weeks and months ahead.
