One of the questions I’ve been asked quite a lot during this campaign is:
Why stand as an independent?
It’s a fair question.
And before getting into the detail, I thought it might be useful to try something a bit different.
Not sure what kind of councillor you want?
I’ve put together a quick quiz to help you think about what actually matters to you locally.
It only takes about 30 seconds:
Being Independent Means Being Accountable to You
As an independent, I don’t have a party telling me how to vote.
I don’t have a national agenda to follow.
And I don’t have to support a position just because it’s the party line.
I am accountable solely to the people who elect me
That’s it.
Every decision should come back to one thing:
what is right for this area?
- Not what helps a party politically.
- Not what fits into a wider national narrative.
Just what works locally.
This Role Is About Delivery, Not Politics
At County Council level, the issues are very clear:
- roads and potholes
- transport
- road safety
- SEND provision
- local services
These are not political debates.
👉 They are about whether the council is doing what it is supposed to be doing for our area
For me, the role of a County Councillor isn’t about trying to expand the power of the council, or getting drawn into national politics.
It’s much simpler than that:
👉 make sure the County Council delivers properly for the people it serves
That means:
- holding it to account
- pushing for better outcomes
- and making sure this area isn’t overlooked
A Different Way of Working
Being independent allows you to take a more practical approach.
- support good ideas, wherever they come from
- challenge things that don’t make sense
- work with anyone to get things done
Without being tied to a particular party position.
It also means being visible and engaged locally, not just during election periods.
Why This Matters Right Now
This election is happening at a particularly important time.
Local government is about to change, with Essex moving towards a new unitary authority structure.
That means Essex County Council, as it currently exists, will be replaced.
So what we do now matters
If we go into that transition with:
- unresolved issues
- poor service levels
- and areas being overlooked
those problems don’t disappear, they carry forward into the new system.
So this election isn’t just about the next year or two. It’s about the position we hand this area over in.
The Reality of Running as an Independent
I’ll be honest, standing as an independent does make campaigning harder.
There isn’t:
- a big party machine
- large advertising budgets
- or centralised support
But what I have seen instead is something much more important.
What I’m Seeing on the Ground
This campaign has been built on local support.
People:
- sharing posts online
- having conversations
- putting up posters
- delivering leaflets
- getting involved
Over 50 people have helped deliver leaflets across the area.
Dozens have offered to put posters in their windows.
And the level of engagement, both online and in person, has been genuinely encouraging and that’s what a local campaign should look and feel like.
Final Thought
At its core, this comes down to a simple question:
who do you want representing your area?
Someone tied to a party structure?
Or someone who can make decisions independently, based purely on what’s needed locally.
For me, the role is straightforward: make sure the council does what it is meant to do, properly.
That’s why I’m standing as an independent.