Simon Dedman

Political Reporter @BBCNews @BBCEssex former @BBCLookEast Health and Senior Reporter

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

The King has said the government will "enable roads to be built at pace including the Lower Thames Crossing" at the state opening of parliament.

A highways financing bill is expected to be brought forward that will allow the private sector to bid for construction works.

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

Thurrock Labour MP has said Starmer “must step aside”.

The other 4 Essex Labour MPs have come out in support of the Prime Minister

[Jen Craft MP @ThurrockJen]

A statement on the Labour leadership.

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

Tonight, Southend West Labour MP David Burton-Sampson has replaced a ministerial aide to Heath Sec Wes Streeting.

Harlow’s Labour MP backs Starmer staying on as PM.

[Chris Vince MP @ChrisVinceMP]

The public will not forgive us if we start turning inwards.

We were elected with a clear mandate.

When we go into the next election with the question of who should run the country: Keir, Kemi, or Nigel - the answer is clear. Keir delivered 2024, he can deliver again.

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

EXCL: Reform UK councillor has quit from the two councils he was elected on and been expelled from the party days after the local elections https://t.co/O3ys0Iox2d

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

BREAKING: Reform UK have won a majority on Essex County Council.

They now have 42 councillors with 21 seats still to declare

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

BREAKING: The government has announced that Essex will have 5 councils as part of local government reorganisation

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

Nigel Farage says Reform “will fight” a radical reshape of local government planned for Essex https://t.co/NtvFoedeZN

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

Labour have voted in favour of Harlow Council’s Conservative administration’s budget https://t.co/dYpOts0L7D

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

Epping Forest Council is seeking to appeal a High Court decision not grant an injunction on the Bell Hotel housing asylum seekers.

+ it wants to appeal paying £95,000 towards hotel owner Somani's legal fees
+ £66k paying the Home Secretary's legal bill
https://t.co/n50VFUUlL6

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

Opposition frontbench full of Essex Conservatives at #PMQs

Kemi Badenoch has Mark Francois and Alex Burghart by her side.

Priti Patel and Rebecca Harris also front row.

[Luke Tryl @LukeTryl]

Forced choice head to head on preferred prime minister.
🌹Starmer v.narrowly edges Farage and Polanski but loses to Davey and Badenoch
🌳Badenoch wins all four head to heads
🔶Davey beats Starmer & v.narrowly Farage, but loses to Badenoch
➡️ Farage narrowly beats Polanski and loses to Badenoch & v.narrowly Starmer and Davey
💚Polanski loses to Badenoch & more narrowly Farage & v narrowly Starmer

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

What is happening with Uber in Southend?

The Council has said the driver hailing app is "not banned" from the seaside city.

Uber handed it back its license and analysing its own consultation on operating in Southend.

https://t.co/HD3p4f9uMH

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

BREAKING: Essex County Council elections will be going ahead on 7 May.

The Communities Secretary Steve Reed wrote to ECC today saying: "on balance, I consider it appropriate that the elections to Essex County Council take place in May 2026”.

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

Will Elections in Essex get cancelled this year?

Three councils: Harlow, Basildon and Thurrock have requested they get 'postponed' to focus on a big shake of local government: 15 councils becoming 3-5.

The final decision is the government's...
https://t.co/08Mf9A4wGE

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

What's coming up politically in Essex in 2026...

https://t.co/xBV8IZwbea

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

Thurrock Council says the government will not wipe off all its debt and some of it will transfer to whichever new unitary authority the council is part of after Local Government Reorganisation https://t.co/QXZ7kFRDMF

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

BREAKING: two senior council sources tell me the mayoral elections in Essex and three other regions are being cancelled next year until 2028.

Government will announce tomorrow I’m told

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

The government has committed £891m for the Lower Thames Crossing.

The #Budget says "It's final tranche of government support to enable the private sector to take forward construction and long-term operation"
and that it is "the largest roadbuilding project for a generation"

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

'Don't drag our bar out of business' - show-bar and LGBTQ+ community space in Colchester concerned about its future ahead of next week's #Budget
https://t.co/1OT80pSadH

[Simon Dedman @SiDedman]

BREAKING: The High Court has rejected the latest legal action brought by Epping Forest District Council to end the use of the Bell Hotel to house asylum seekers.
https://t.co/YwsHcNzFIq