Contact: Jenni Brockman During her recent trip to London, St. Margaret's School Headmistress Margaret Robinson Broad discovered the governments of Essex County, Virginia and Essex County, England are more alike than she first thought. Last May, Lord Hanningfield, then Deputy Chairman of the Local Government Association and Leader of Essex County Council, visited Essex County to research local government with his assistant, Rob Colmer. Hosted by the Essex County Chamber of Commerce, Hanningfield and Colmer received myriad insights into Essex County government. Hanningfield discussed Virginia’s local government structure with the late James Moore, Governor James Gilmore and many others. Paying a reciprocal visit to Lord Hannigfield, Mrs. Broad and her husband, David, received a private tour of the House of Lords and Houses of Parliament earlier this month. The Broads, who were in country for the 250th anniversary celebration of St. Margaret’s School, Bushey, toured Parliament two days prior to the opening of the new parliamentary year by the Queen. Hanningfield’s home county, Essex, in England, has existed as an English kingdom since the Eighteenth century. At present, Hanningfield is steering a major amendment to pro-centralization government legislation in England, hoping he can keep government local rather than centralized. "Whilst central government continues to keep a tight hold on the purse strings, local authorities will not be able to reflect local needs and local priorities," Hanningfield says. Since returning home, Hanningfield has embodied many features in local government that address the representation of constituents in respect to the size, culture and variety of communities found in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lord Hanningfield’s opposition to current legislation in his country - legislation with strong centralizing overtones - aims to devolve power down to local government. "This is important not only in the United Kingdom, but everywhere," Hanningfield comments. "Essex County [England] is the same size as many American states and the average European Union region. To lump any county with five neighboring counties and call it ‘city government’ is wrong. Local government must be reformed some other way."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARGARET BROAD MEETS LORD HANNINGFIELD,
TOURS BRITISH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
St. Margaret’s School Headmistress Margaret Robinson Broad (l.) visits with Lord Hanningfield at the House of Lords in London, England. Last May, Hanningfield toured Essex County to research government structure in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
