As Conservatives, we know the Liberal Democrats are the party of opportunism. But we can’t take for granted that local people know this too.
George Smith, the local Conservative leader, expects to beat Residents for Uttlesford, but faces acutely difficult decisions about how many houses to build.
Allowing us to have a say at the outset would be in the interests of developers and the local community.
It would be wrong for the Government to restrict the independence of local authorities to decide on borrowing and commercial investment.
Yet more triumphs for clusters of independents. Essex Man may have lost enthusiasm for the Conservative Party but not for Conservative principles.