Why not an Essex Assembly? A strategic body for the whole county, with clear democratic accountability and the authority to make major decisions about transport, infrastructure, economic growth and regional development.
We should also be honest about the precedent such actions set. If one tier of government can have its elections cancelled for administrative convenience, why not another?
People are tired of politicians who sit quietly in town halls, nodding along but never standing up. They want people who will challenge bureaucracy, push back against waste, and make their voices heard.