Reform UK seeks breakthrough in fragmented Havering Council

Havering is a borough that's long done things rather differently, and the issues that might sway voters here resonate beyond Romford.

The east London borough has a long history of being under no overall control, where no single party has won enough seats to rule outright.

That led to a rather unusual political grouping running things here last time.

The Havering Residents Association (HRA), which has long had a presence on the council, pushed the Conservatives aside four years ago, with a little help from Labour.

But the council's financial difficulties, which they inherited, haven't gone away under their watch.

Ray Morgon, leader of the HRA, who is not standing in the election, said: "We realised we did need to take steps to improve Romford Town Centre, and we have done so already, but there is still more to be done."

He said littering, an issue raised by voters, was "often down to local people and people visiting the borough".

He added: "Instead of using the bins that are around in the town centre, why are you dropping it on the floor?"

The Conservatives want to make a comeback in Havering, but they have lost three councillors to Reform UK.

The MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell, defected too, although his face is still on a poster outside Margaret Thatcher House, the headquarters for the Romford Conservative Association, amid a bitter row over who should get to use it.

Michael White, a Conservative candidate, said people voted for the party "in good faith and found themselves with a Reform MP; didn't vote for that, a Reform councillor - didn't vote for that".

He added: "People are very angry out there about what's happened and I hope those people will stay with us.

"Reform are talking about taking Havering out of London and into Essex; well if that happens you lose your bus pass, quarter less police, two-thirds less fire."

The Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade cover all 32 London boroughs, as does the Freedom Pass and other concessionary travel passes.

Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage visited Romford Market on Friday with Rosindell.

Havering Council is one of the party's targets in this election.

Keith Prince, a former Tory who is now a Reform candidate, promised improvements despite the council's budget gap.

"We will make a massive difference here and we will make sure that [Romford] market is regenerated and we're looking to put more pride into Havering," he said.

"Making a tax cut will be difficult but when I was leader of Redbridge (council), I'm the only leader who ever had successive years of no council tax rise, so I really do have the experience.

"I know where to look for the money."

In Harold Hill, which has been earmarked for regeneration, the Labour Party's group leader on Havering Council, Keith Darvill, says they could hold the balance of power after polling day, as they did four years ago.

He said: "What it will mean is that groups will have to get together and agree a programme for the next four years and that will include, as far as we're concerned, priority for social housing."

There will be even more choice for voters on polling day, as the Greens and Liberal Democrats will also be standing candidates in Havering along with independent candidates.

A full list of candidates standing for election to Havering Borough Council on 7 May can be found here.

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