Regular readers of my column can be forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu when they read this week’s article. The reason being is that I have previously written about how a swathe of local elections due to take place earlier this year, including right here in Essex, were delayed due to the Conservatives and Labour being so terrified about the rise of Reform. Now would you believe it, it looks like it will now happen again in 2026!

It’s been widely reported that Essex County Council are colluding with Labour once again to postpone elections next year. What’s more, Tory Council leaders across the country are quite openly admitting they want the elections to be delayed because they fear Reform will win.  

Now, don’t just take my word for it. Conservative Councillor John Spence, an Essex County Council Cabinet Member is on the record speaking about “the risks of political leadership change”.  

If he and his Conservative colleagues across Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire get their way it will mean these councillors will end up serving seven-year terms.  

But worse still, it would mean that millions of people will have been robbed of their right to vote once again because the people in charge don’t like the potential result. You don’t need me to tell you that this is a complete and total outrage. Only dictators cancel elections, or so I thought!  

Why on earth should people pay their council tax if they don’t get the chance to vote for people that implement policies that affect their lives locally?  

I intend to lobby the government as hard as possible on this and, if you’re as outraged as me, I would urge you to please sign this petition to Let the People Vote by going to letthepeoplevote.com 

Sign it in large numbers and share it with your friends and family. Let’s all object to democracy being delayed yet again.