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…

Why the UK Must Lead Quietly as France’s Star Fades in the Middle East In the great diplomatic three dimensional chessboard of the Middle East, influence is not measured solely by embassies or summits – it’s measured by who picks up the phone and who picks up the bill; and in the case of Egypt,…

Today is Father’s Day and so I’ve been reflecting, not just as a father myself, but as a Councillor, School Governor and someone who working in the NHS, cares about the long-term health of our society. In the eddy of public debate about families, rights, welfare, and gender roles, one figure has gradually become politically…

There are times in history when a nation seems to hover at the edge of something…uncertain whether it will stumble, fall, or take flight; Iran feels like it’s at such a point now, and while I don’t claim to know exactly where it’s going, recent events suggest that the ground is shifting under the Islamic…

As we creep ever slowly towards the next general election, there’s a question that lingers beneath the polls and headlines – quiet but persistent: What is the Conservative Party actually for? It’s easy to reach for familiar words, freedom, enterprise, security, but slogans alone don’t stir hearts. They don’t win trust. What’s missing, in my…