Downing Street may seem like a long way from a maisonette in Debden, but Foreign Secretary and self-confessed Essex boy Jack Straw loves coming home. JANE WHARTON caught up with Loughton's famous son.

It is 50 years since his political career began but Jack Straw is back at his mother's side for a Labour Party event.

The politician has come a long way since delivering party leaflets around Debden as a boy but he is famed for remaining refreshingly down to earth and honest.

While the Labour Party stalwart does not envisage a move back to the district, it is clear that Epping Forest remains close to his heart.

Born in Buckhurst Hill in August 1946, the second of five children, he fondly remembers his youth in Pyrles Lane.

"Growing up in Loughton was good and I'm very fond of the place. Members of my mum's family have been here for 150 years and it's where my roots are. I do miss the people and I'm an Essex boy. There's a real energy about Essex people which is great and I see that in my family."

Mr Straw's maternal grandfather was one of the first children to attend Staples Road Primary School in Loughton in 1899. Five generations of the family have been educated there.

Politics is certainly in the blood and Mr Straw can remember being out on the streets canvassing as a young boy.

His mother, Joan Ormston, was an active party member and had him collecting numbers in the urban district council election at St John's Church Hall in 1955.

Mr Straw joked that his mother sent him out in all weathers, but Mrs Ormston - who went on to become a councillor on Epping Forest district and Loughton town councils - remembers he was a willing volunteer.

"I'm very proud of what he has achieved. I thought he would probably go into politics because my father was very keen and he used to talk to Jack about it a lot as a boy."

At the 1959 election, aged 13, Mr Straw gave a speech and joined the Labour Party at 15. His great great grandfather was famed for fighting against enclosure, which secured the conservation of Epping Forest.

Mr Straw said he missed the forest, adding: "The forest was a very important part of my childhood. My great great grandfather fought to keep the forest open, so it's in the blood. We used to spend hours, even days, in the forest and just disappear."

Mr Straw was visiting Harlow at the invitation of Foreign Office colleague and Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering MP Bill Rammell. He said he was acutely aware of public resistance to proposals for 478,000 homes in the east of England, including 11,000 in the district. He said: "It's a really difficult issue because we all want peace and quiet where we live and we don't want people in our backyard. On the other hand, if there hadn't been a lot of building in this part of Essex after the war our house in Debden would never have been built."

He said there were housing waiting lists which needed to be responded to but added: "Epping Forest can't be built on. My great great grandfather fought for the forest, so John Prescott wouldn't even try it." Mr Straw first moved away from the area when he was awarded a grant to board at Brentwood School. He studied law at the University of Leeds and went on to become president of its student union. He progressed to lead the National Union of Students and turned it into a powerful organisation.

Mr Straw then studied for the bar and practised as a criminal law junior. But the lure of politics proved too great and after a stint as an Islington councillor he was elected MP for Blackburn in 1979.

He has held many positions within the Cabinet, notably Home Secretary from 1997 to 2001 and Foreign Secretary since 2001. An election is anticipated in May but Mr Straw is still confident of Labour's chances of re-election despite the controversial Iraq war.

"Iraq was a very divisive issue but I believe opinion now is shifting, above all because of the elections held there a few weeks ago. People could see a huge number of Iraqis going to vote and take part in democracy and the right which we take for granted. That right has only been provided as a result of the coalition.

"Some Iraqis don't like the fact we are there because we are outside forces but they hated Saddam and the election provided an explanation for what we did."

Mr Straw's direct and honest approach has won him many admirers and he is recognised as an able and confident politician.

These strengths have fuelled speculation over the years that he may some day take possession of the key to Number 10 Downing Street, a far cry from that maisonette in Debden.