Mr Mark Francois

Mr Mark Francois

Conservative — Rayleigh and Wickford

Speaking in the House of Commons on 7 September 2026

Debate

Local Government Reorganisation

Contribution

Local government reform in Essex has been a farce from the outset, because the people never wanted it. The council tax payers themselves never had any desire for this process. I welcome the fact that Labour’s five gerrymandered unitary authorities are clearly now stone dead, but I want to give the Secretary of State some honest advice: drop it and walk away—including the mayoralty. We have got by in Essex for 1,000 years without a mayor, and the last thing we want in our county is another Sadiq Khan. Just get rid.

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