Ongar and Villages

I was in the Dog House pub in Tawney Common last week for a meeting with the local residents who are opposing plans for a huge solar farm on agricultural land which forms part of the beautiful green landscape between Epping and Brentwood.This group is doing just the right thing to make their case; t

Just when we thought elections were out of the way for this year, we have had a spate of by-elections.

I have been impressed by the work Ongar residents done with the campaign group set up to object to the speculative development by Bloor Homes on Green Belt land south of Chelmsford Road in Ongar.I am very strongly against the loss of green belt land and am always clear with local and

After a hard-fought local election campaign for county, borough and district council seats in Brentwood and Ongar, I offer my congratulations to all those who are now councillors, and my commiserations to those who worked very hard but lost on the night.I am looking forward to working with all those

My Friday constituency visits were delayed last week as I spent the breakfast hours doing the media round, dealing with the breaking news that sacked US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, had failed security vetting but had still been appointed to the role, which allowed him access to top secret Governmen

As I write, President Trump is on the news saying he believes the US/Israeli war on Iran is “very complete, pretty much”.However the impact of the missile strikes on targets in the Middle East and the subsequent effect on oil prices could be felt for some time to come.

It was excellent to see so many Essex Members of Parliament, Borough District and County Councillors and candidates for the May local elections gathering at Hutton Hall on Friday for the launch of the Conservatives’ Essex election campaign, presided over by my party’s leader, and Leader of His Majes

The next Conservative Government will restore visible policing and clear consequences for the anti-social behaviour and street disorder that are making too many communities feel unsafe. As a result Essex police would benefit from 303 new police officers, delivering law and order with stronger p

6th January 2026In a further update on this year local council elections, the Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has written this week to Council Leaders to confirm which elections are going ahead and which are being postponed.As planned, it h

As the Parliamentary session draws to a close this week, there is a chance to look back on the year.The Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which threatens to ride roughshod over the views of local people when it comes to maintaining our green belt and listening to concerns about water su