Five things we learnt from five party interviews

This week four party leaders and a cabinet minister from the five main political parties have been interviewed ahead of the local elections on Thursday, 7 May.

They were quizzed on some of their key policies and pledges.

Here are five key things we learnt from the daily interviews in the order they appeared on BBC Essex.

Zack Polanski was asked about the Greens' policy on legalising class A drugs.

Polanski said they were "are taking a public health approach that's led by data and experts" with its policy to legalise class A drugs like crack cocaine.

Asked by presenter Ben Fryer if these drugs would be available like cigarettes in corner shops, Polanski responded: "You wouldn't have dangerous drugs in corner shops. If people are addicted to dangerous drugs they would be getting that from a pharmacy, from an NHS professional."

Polanski said their policy was "to legalise and regulate".

"People are already addicted to drugs, and dangerous drugs at that. Do we want people buying those drugs, as they are right now, on the black market or on street corners? Or do we want people in the hands of medical health professionals?

"So, people can have a prescription or therapy and can be worked to be weaned off dangerous drugs."

Sir Ed Davey was asked about one of the Liberal Democrats' recent policy announcements — abolishing the Treasury.

The department headed up by the chancellor of the exchequer would be replaced by a new government department of growth based in Birmingham.

Fryer asked if this was a policy that would resonate with voters.

The party leader responded: "That is a national policy. I think that growing the economy so we can tackle the cost of living is important. The cost of living is the biggest issue on many doorsteps. We've seen that get worse thanks to Trump's idiotic war in Iran."

He argued the Lib Dems were focused on growth — hence plans for a government department to focus on it.

Sir Ed argued the government was getting a windfall from higher oil prices "they should recycle that and give it back to families" and said the Lib Dems would cut 12p off a litre of fuel.

The leader of Reform UK was asked if he stood by comments he made about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) last year that "we are massively over-diagnosing those with mental illness problems".

Nigel Farage said after a year in power in Lincolnshire, Reform had come to the conclusion that "very often those in most need don't get as much care as they ought to be getting".

"There are too many being put on a list, told they are victims who frankly, through ADHD and much else, probably ought not to be there."

The Clacton MP said "it depends" when asked by BBC Essex's mid morning presenter Ben Fryer if a child with ADHD had special educational needs.

"I've spoken to headmasters who tell me they've got teenagers being diagnosed with ADHD where frankly they should not be and it's a bad thing for the kid because they haven't got real problems," said Farage.

"If you tell people at 15 or 16 years old they're victims, they're likely to stay that way."

Kemi Badenoch was also asked about SEND. The Conservative leader said: "We let the doctors decide what the right diagnosis is. I've talked about low-level conditions around welfare, not special educational needs, needing to be looked at again.

"There is not enough money in the system for what we need to do. A lot of parents see that."

However, Badenoch said she was "pleased with how Essex has been doing the job".

In 2024, Essex County Council admitted it was the worst performing local authority for processing applications for educational health care plans for children.

Just 1% were being completed within the legal 20-week target. In November, that had improved to 27%.

Badenoch responded that the Conservative-run authority, where every seat is up for election on 7 May, was working hard on SEND.

"They are one of the best for children's services. They are doing a lot very well," the North West Essex MP said.

BBC Essex spoke live to the leaders of the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Reform UK and asked Labour for an interview with the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. He wasn't available, nor was any minister.

BBC East spoke to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on a visit about plans for new solar power farms and new energy infrastructure across the region.

"Whenever a nationally significant decision is made we listen to what local people say. Where there is new energy infrastructure there is benefit for local people," he said.

Miliband said people living 500 metres from new energy and grid infrastructure would get £250 off their energy bills every year.

Energy infrastructure plans include a new network of high voltage pylons between Norwich and Tilbury, Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk, and new solar farms and offshore wind.

The Labour minister said that with the war in Iran and the effects on energy prices "we know we have got to get to clean energy, because that is the only way to protect people and lower bills for good. So we do need this infrastructure".

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