Devolution has become something of a political buzzword but one too often devoid of the seriousness it deserves. Done badly, it becomes just another layer of government. Done well, it can reconnect people with decision making in a way that makes democracy meaningful again.

Here in Essex, at the moment, we have a real opportunity to lead by example. But to do so, we must start from a simple, often overlooked truth: governance must reflect identity. Decisions work best when made by people who understand the places their decisions affect, and that means trusting communities – not just managing them.

We Don’t Need More Bureaucracy – We Need More Trust

The last few decades have seen a patchwork of local government models across England: Combined Authorities in some places, Elected Mayors in others, partial deals elsewhere. Too often these changes were delivered top-down, opaque, or frankly disconnected from the people they’re meant to serve.

But in Essex, the conversation is further along, and for good reason. Years of work by the leader of ECC, Cllr Kevin Bentley, have shown us what he has always said is true: that top-down blueprints rarely fit the reality on the ground. What residents want isn’t another bureaucratic rebrand or a new political title, they want decisions made closer to home, by people who understand their lives, their priorities, and their places.

That’s why the direction of travel here in Essex has been much clearer.

Cllr Louise McKinlay, both in her work as Deputy Leader at County Hall and in her campaign to be the Conservative nominee for Essex Mayor, has articulated a vision that is based not in restructuring for the sake of it, but in empowering people and respecting place.

She understands that proper devolution doesn’t mean just adding layers; it means recognising the identity and variety of different local communities and building governance around how people actually live.

It’s one of the key reasons I’m supporting her candidacy. She knows this great County, and she knows through hard work that genuine local leadership is built not on slogans but on trust, consistency, and the courage to do what works for Essex.

Essex Deserves More Than a One-Size-Fits-All Model

Our amazing county is rich in diversity – urban and rural, coastal and inland, traditional and modern. We are growing fast, but not always evenly. What’s needed in Harlow may differ from what’s needed in Colchester, or Southend, or Braintree.

That’s why it’s vital that any future arrangements are shaped around real places, not artificial created zones. People must be able to recognise the areas they live in not just on a map, but in the institutions that serve them.

Yes, there are conversations to be had about how best to deliver services, manage infrastructure, and support growth. But these must be thoughtful and responsive to local voices, not rushed or dictated.

I have often spoken positively of a West Essex approach, but I do so with full awareness that no boundaries are yet set, and no outcomes pre-determined. We owe it to our residents to do this the right way, not the quick way.

A Conservative Opportunity to Lead Localism

It is sometimes wrongly assumed that localism is a left-wing idea. In truth, it is deeply conservative – rooted in tradition, responsibility, and the belief that decisions are best taken as close to the people as possible.

We have a chance now to:

• Respect local identities and stop treating towns and districts as administrative footnotes.
• Back our Borough, City and District councils, who hold the community links needed for successful delivery.
• Enable the County level to coordinate where strategic oversight is genuinely needed  – on transport, skills, and major growth.
• And above all, secure meaningful long lasting powers from central government, not just new pots of funding or short-term pilots.

If done properly, Essex can lead the way in showing how Conservatism can deliver competent, connected local governance.

This is not about politics. It’s about trust. And it’s about making government feel closer, not further away.

Time to Finish What We Started

Levelling up was never just about money. It was a recognition, however brief, that too many communities felt left behind and voiceless, something that is becoming clearer by the day and any delay in resolving these issues creates a powder keg in communities. We cannot just throw money at problems and expect confidence to return however.

We need to put decisions in the hands of the people who live with the consequences of those decisions. That’s the heart of this conversation, not structures, but sovereignty. Not gimmicks, but good government.

We’ve made progress. But now we need consistency, courage, and clarity.

Let’s finish what we started.