I apologise for being so quiet following the local elections in May, which saw Residents for Uttlesford retain their Essex County Council seat in Saffron Walden, but Reform UK take over Essex County Council. I think, given the backdrop of Reformamania, and a strong R4U campaign in Saffron Walden, where they continue to be the largest political party, I didn’t perform badly in May’s election. R4U benefitted greatly from the “keep Reform out” vote, alongside, at that time, and from Labour voters being unhappy with their national party who didn’t back the Labour candidate locally.

As for the future of both Uttlesford and Essex County Council, Labour’s proposal to dissolve Uttlesford into a larger authority was placed under national review/withdrawn, and consequently, district boundaries and the existing system remain in place for the May 2027 elections. This means the future of the district remains up in the air, and how long Uttlesford will continue as a Council is still an uncertainty.

The reason I have been so quiet is that I have had quite a few changes in my personal life. I recently became a father, and finally became a driver, which was a necessity to get my partner to the hospital to have the baby! Due to our new family, my partner and I have recently moved to the new Audley Green development in Great Chesterford. I, of course, still remain directly connected to Saffron Walden, as not only do I still work on Shire Hill, but most of my immediate family still live in the Town. Now that I have moved in and we are settled, I will be looking to get back into local politics again.