Review of 2024

 A difficult year but far from an annus horribilis

As we enter 2025, I wanted to say a few words about how things went during 2024.

Every year is a mixed bag but I can think of few years that have contained more dizzying personal highs, and misery-inducing lows than 2024. It is certainly not a year I shall ever forget. On the international stage, the appalling wars in the Ukraine and the Middle East continue unabated, while at home my party, the Conservative Party, suffered the most catastrophic General Election defeat in a generation. 

Westminster

Labour won a landslide election victory in the snap election called by Rishi Sunak in July, bringing to an end 14 years of Conservative rule. It was my party's worst electoral defeat in its long history - our largest defeat in purely numeric terms since 1761. We lost 252 parliamentary seats and saw Sir Keir Starmer walk through the famous door to 10 Downing Street as the new Prime Minister at the head of a Labour Government. Locally, our own long-serving Member of Parliament, John Baron, C.B.E., retired after 23 years service. Richard Holden, outgoing MP for North-West Durham and then Conservative Party Chairman, stood in the seat to succeed him, but won with only a rather sobering majority of just 20 votes, where John's majority had previously been over 20,000. My friend Stephen Metcalfe, formerly MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, sadly lost his seat to a Reform candidate (who, it later turned out, had criminal convictions for assaulting his ex-partner). 

 

To be honest, I could probably write an entirely separate blog just on the subject of the Tory Party's sad and sudden descent into the political wilderness, so I have not the heart to write it here. Suffice it to say, coming so soon after the heady days of 2019, when Boris Johnson won us an 80-seat majority, to watch the party I love and have devoted myself to implode in such a spectacular fashion was far from being one of this year's highlights.  

The horrific election result has necessarily led to an ongoing period of reflection and introspection within the Conservative Party. Following Mr. Sunak's inevitable resignation, the Party held a leadership election, which has resulted in the Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch, M.P. (Con, N-W Essex) taking up the reigns - becoming the fourth female Tory leader and the first black leader of a major British political party (those 'racist, misogynist Tories' strike again). In a social media post that aged like milk, I declared for James Cleverly the day he was eliminated from the contest. Now that Mrs Badenoch is in post, she will have my undivided loyalty. She must unite the Party around her, as we begin to rebuild. The vital importance of this period of renewal can hardly be understated, as the consequences of this Labour Government begin to be felt throughout our communities. A renewed and refreshed Conservative Party is badly needed, and cannot come quickly enough.

 

Whether it is the attacks on pensioners and farmers, 'freebiegate' or the Sue Gray débâcle, Labour's apparent determination to completely dismantle the highly successful educational reforms of the past decade, or their threats to concrete all over our Green Belt, I cannot think of any other government in living memory that has come off the rails quite so quickly. They are a disaster. And, as the consequences of Rachel Reeves' budget really start to bite, things will only get worse under Labour.  

 

Closer to home

Locally, as always, Conservative councillors continued to work hard for residents. I started the year grappling with the threatened closure of the Billericay High Street Post Office, which had been based in the One Stop convenience store. Fortunately, through the good offices of John Baron, we held a number of constructive meetings with Post Office Limited and, with support of colleagues, were able to secure a new main counter service. I was pleased to see the Mayor of Basildon at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and services re-provided in the old Coleby's jewellers.

The other big issue looming over us, as it has for years, was the Local Plan. Following the decision of the Conservative Administration to withdraw the previous Submission Local Plan in 2022, the Council remained under pressure to deliver a new Local Plan. As Tories, we were girding ourselves for a fight, even with our own Government if needs be, to defend the Green Belt around Basildon Borough. We had some early successes and I was delighted in late January, when the Planning Inspectorate rejected the appeal against the Council's refusal to grant planning permission for 150 houses and a care home on Green Belt land off Potash Road. I was also able, with support from the Billericay Tree Wardens and the Norsey Wood Society, to secure the Norsey Road Woodland Order to protect the woodland within rear gardens abutting Norsey Wood. We also had Norsey Meadow designated a Local Nature Reserve, offering yet further protection.

Sadly, before we knew it, the May elections were upon us. A boundary review had taken place, altering some ward boundaries, which meant the Council had to be entirely reconstituted. It was Basildon's first 'all-in/all-out' elections in over 20 years. Both my ward colleagues - David Dadds and Stuart Sullivan - had represented Billericay East since the last 'all-out' but both retired this year. I was pleased to be joined by two new ward colleagues - Andy Barnes and Martyn Mordecai. I will confess, however, while I was pleased to be re-elected, it was particularly gratifying to top the poll, even though I was at the bottom of the ballot paper. This was my fifth election in Billericay East and I never take the result for granted. It was a humbling endorsement from my constituents, made the more poignant by the fact that I also became a father for the first time the same night (meaning I missed the election count for the first time in 14 years). 

My son, William, was born on May 2nd - Polling Day, of course! He is my first child, a little brother to my stepdaughter Poppy, and the whole family are completely smitten with him. This introduction of new life came after the sadness of March, when my dear friend, Luke Mackenzie, then Mayor of Basildon, passed away at the young age of just 37, after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. Luke and I were old friends and it was he who recruited me into politics in the first place. His death was a terrible personal blow, and a great loss to the Borough.  

The local election results were a disastrous foreshadowing of the General Election to come. Basildon Conservatives lost control of the Council, reduced to only 13 councillors. I have never known there be so few of us. The Tory Group is now the smallest since the late 1990s. Labour have taken up administration, backed as usual by Basildon's motley collection of 'Independents'. The national picture played its part, of course, but there is no denying the part played by our less than entirely successful changes to waste (ubiquitously known as 'bingate').  

The election necessarily brought an end to my time in Cabinet. I headed the Housing portfolio for 3 years. I am extremely proud of what I and my officers achieved over that period, particularly the creation of Nevendon Place - my homelessness facility in Pitsea. The Council also ended my appointment as a trustee of the Billericay Educational Trust, so I was pleased to re-join in a personal capacity. I am adjusting to my new role in Opposition, having been appointed to the Performance Scrutiny Committee and the Standards Committee.    

Labour's first act was to pension off the old Chief Executive and start restructuring the Council. They now have us borrowed up to the hilt to the tune of millions, which they ploughed into buying up real estate in Basildon. Like their Westminster counterparts, Basildon Labour are never happier than when spending other people's money. I think we shall probably need to brace ourselves for a whacking rise in Council Tax come the budget-setting in February. Goodness only knows what will happen if they are successful in merging Basildon Borough with Thurrock, as is their stated aim.

Albeit now in Opposition, Conservative councillors continue to work hard. I finally got those street lights fixed between Crown Road and Jacksons Lane. Thanks are also due to my county colleague, Cllr. Anthony Hedley (Con, Billericay & Burstead), for finally securing full resurfacing of Hillside Road, Chapel Street and Valley Road, all badly in need to investment for some time. It is also largely through his good offices, as former Cabinet Member for Business Engagement, that we have the Billericay Business Improvement District. We also saw the opening of the long-awaited new play area and skate park in Lake Meadows, along with a state-of-the-art Changing Places toilet facility. Colleagues and I are still lobbying for improvements to local bus services, as well as raising residents' concerns about the proposed National Grid pylons, and closure of South Green GP Surgery. Nothing, however, will be more important than fighting Labour's new Draft Local Plan for 27,000 homes (grossly in excess of realistic local need). The Regulation 18 consultation is due to end on January 12th.    

Looking forward

We have sound mountains to climb in 2025. With no borough elections scheduled this year (and an increasing likelihood that the scheduled county elections will be cancelled as part of Labour's proposed reorganisation of local government), Labour have control of the council in Basildon and of the government in Westminster, and they have the time to inflict their terrible plans. But we shall continue to fight the good fight. There will be challenges ahead but, working together, I know we can continue to achieve good things. 

I wish all of you in Billericay East, or wheresoever you may be, all the best for a very Happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.