AS a supporter of the principle behind the English Devolution Bill, I recognise the once-in-a-generation opportunity it presents to shift power away from Westminster and into the hands of local communities.

For too long, decisions have been made too far away from the people they affect. Devolution gives us the chance to put that right.

But how we deliver devolution matters.

That’s why I believe the model of five unitary councils for Essex, including a new West Essex authority made up of Harlow, Epping Forest, and Uttlesford, is by far the best option for our town. This model puts Harlow at the centre of a new local authority. It gives our community a stronger voice, greater local control, and more direct access to the services people use every day, from buses and education to healthcare, housing and planning.

For years, I’ve knocked on doors and heard the same frustrations: potholes ignored, services stretched, decisions made elsewhere. A five-council model allows us to bring real accountability closer to the people who use those services and pay for them.

By contrast, the alternative model put forward by Essex County Council, a much larger three-unitary structure, would see Harlow absorbed into a vast region stretching towards Chelmsford. It risks pushing decision-making even further away from the people of Harlow. And let’s be honest: in a mega-authority centred on Chelmsford, it’s clear who would dominate. Harlow deserves better.

The five-unitary model strikes the right balance. It gives us the scale and powers to make a real difference – but with the local identity and responsiveness that residents rightly expect. In this new arrangement, Harlow would not be an afterthought. We’d be the capital.

As Harlow’s MP, I will continue to champion a fair deal for our town. That means making sure devolution delivers not just for the county, but for our community, with Harlow at the very heart of it.