September arrives with its usual flurry—new uniforms, fresh timetables, parents half-wishing for another week of summer but mostly relieved the house has quieted down. But the return to school should also be a moment for reflection. What exactly are we sending our children back into? And are we, as a society, doing right by them?…

When I first accepted the role of Chair of Harlow Council, I was under no illusions. Some view civic roles as relics—dignified but largely ceremonial. A chance to wear the chain, cut a few ribbons, and pose for photographs. But I’ve come to believe, more than ever, that in an age of cynicism, symbols still…

One of the ironies of modern British politics is that the closer you get to the ground, the more sense things tend to make. In Westminster, it’s often all theatre. A daily churn of headlines, spin, and increasingly empty exchanges. But in local government—the town halls, parish councils, scrutiny committees—you encounter something far more real:…