It seems clear to the Harlow Residents Alliance that those who believe that it does not matter that Cllr Swords has called on the Government to postpone elections in Harlow have missed the main point.

Let us explain. If the best scenario of a bad bunch is used, Harlow, Epping Forest and Uttlesford Councils will be merged into one new Unitary Authority. At the present time, residents in these three areas are represented by 52 Conservative councillors, 41 Independents,16 Labour, 7 Liberal Democrats, 3 Reform and 2 Green. During the next year councillors and officers across the three areas will be working to merge services, policies and practices as well as creating wholly new departments to deal with for instance education and highways.

But where is the independent voice in Harlow within all this? Unlike in the rest of the new District, Harlow does not have any independent councillors or a Town and Parish Councils. Cancelling elections in Harlow leaves the status quo; councillors who cannot agree on the best option for Harlow, councillors who have no mandate for change and councillors who were supposed to be up for election again later this year. If elections were held, residents would be been given the opportunity to vote for independent candidates who believe in taking the Party out of politics and who could stand up for Harlow alongside like minded people in other parts of the new District.

How this works in practice is evidenced in the fact that strong, local independent councillors at both Epping Forest and Uttlesford have ensured that elections will be held there next May.

Let Harlow Council know that you disagree with the postponement by signing a petition which can be found here. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/vote