Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, has warmly welcomed the news that local elections will now be going ahead across South Essex, following the Labour Government's recent U-turn.
Mark stated in the House of Commons, just last month, that if we could hold a General Election in wartime (in July 1945, while we were still fighting the Second World War in the Far East) then we should certainly be able to hold local elections, in peacetime, in the 21st century, as well.
Given all of this, Mark was delighted that the Local Government Secretary, the Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, announced on 16th February that all scheduled local elections in Essex - including in Labour-led Basildon and Thurrock, who had requested to postpone them - will now be going ahead after all.
Commenting on all this, Mark said:
"This really is a win for democracy. Obviously, I hope people will vote for the Conservative candidates in the May 2026 elections but, whoever you prefer, having had the threat of votes being taken away by this Government, I hope that as many of the electorate as possible will cast a vote for someone, whoever they choose, in just over two months' time."
