Havering Council Meeting, 27th May 2026

Keith Prince’s Debut Speech as Leader of the Council

Keith is a veteran politician who’s a GLA member. This heightens expectations. So, when he did a *Memory Lane* about being born in Elm Park, I was puzzled. His jog-trot through Junior and Secondary schools was bizarre. It was as if he was overwhelmed. Keith didn’t tell us about his triumphs as a window monitor or school prefect, which was a relief.

My despair deepened by his claim to friendship with Ray Morgon. Keith said he was *Mayor*.1 Dear, oh dear! Where was all this going? It felt like a train crash.

Keith established that he’s an Essex Boy.2 The unspoken statement was that unlike Andrew Rosindell, Keith was the *Real Thing*.3 Andrew was born after Havering was created and is, therefore, a Londoner. Keith had his political steel toe-capped boots on and promptly began using them. He denounced the ludicrous Hexit obsessions of Andrew who wants Havering to leave London and join Essex. Keith’s Reform council wouldn’t spend any time on this.

Keith went further. He said that Hexit would be a very expensive for the people of Havering. (Did I hear silent regret for the Brexit fiasco?) Keith said he’d be using his political energy working to elect a Reform GLA Mayor. This was sly because Andrew is a failed Mayoral candidate.

Reading between the lines, there was more. Keith doesn’t want Andrew to think that he is calling the shots in the Town Hall. Keith wants to be master in his own domain. And! Keith is in power and Andrew is merely a political influencer. There’s a world of difference between being a ‘mover and shaker’ and someone shouting from the sidelines.

Keith said that he has a 100-day plan in his pocket. I’ll be counting the days and looking for the accomplishments. Or not.

Addendum

Keith might want to consider these trivialities for his 100-days plan:

  1. The Waterloo Estate fiasco
  2. Launders Lane contaminated land and air pollution
  3. The data centre on Green Belt Land
  4. £272M of debt to the government at 6%

OR

  • He could stick with gesture politics, like putting the boot into Gay Pride Month

Notes

1 His speech begins at 1 hour 16 minutes. Go to 1:19:33 in the webcast Annotator Player Morgon was also a ‘friend’ by the way.

2 First mention 1:16:53 A very early signal which I should have picked up.

3 Keith begins putting the boot in at 1:24

Havering’s Revolution ~ Is Keith Prince Superman?

For Havering’s Reform party to succeed, Keith Prince needs to be ‘Superman’. Havering is bankrupt. It faces financial pressures which are horrifying. Keith will have to the square the circle that is Reform’s desire for radical change and the pressures preventing change. Nonetheless:

Keith’s ‘Revolution’ gives him (1) opportunities as well as (2) headaches

(1) Revolutions demand Radical change, and

(2) Central government’s iron fist over local finance.

Opportunities

What do Reform councillors “Really, really want?1 Keith knows Farage’s motormouth slogans are nonsense. Havering can’t ‘Stop the Boats”.  Keith can’t magic Havering out of London to fulfil the ludicrous ‘Hexit’ policy. And, Havering’s Reform councillors can’t vote Starmer out of Downing Street.

Keith must keep his 36 new councillors on board. He must keep thousands of Reform voters on board. What is he going to do? Keith is a class act. He’s been a councillor since 1990. He’s also a senior member of the GLA. This means he knows Mayor Khan very well and politics is the art of adroit compromises. Keith and Mayor Khan might not love each other but they can cooperate. Always assuming it works for all concerned.

Doing what is doable is the centrepiece of political agendas. Keith needs cheap, flashy policies that hit the button. Reform voters like flags. Why not have a flag budget for public buildings like libraries? This would be mocked but would work if the book budget was significantly increased. £50,000 should be enough. Reform vigorously opposed library closures and this would be a statement of difference.

The kiss of electoral death is,

‘Everything is different but nothing has changed.’

Headaches

Havering is bankrupt. HRA borrowed £100m+ to ‘Balance’ the books. That is as stupid as it sounds. But if the government don’t forgive the debt, the taxi meter is clicking along at 6% p.a., which is compounded. This could destroy Keith’s ambitions for a Reform revolution.

The intractable problem is the budget for Adult and Children’s Services. Both are demand led, making for budget instability. Someone is going to have to be very clever to cope with this. And this takes us to the principal headache for Keith.

Inexperienced councillors! Keith’s biggest fear is that his new team is ‘captured’ by officers who impose (ever so nicely) their agenda. His experience gives him a fighting chance of being able to spot talent. People willing to work hard, command detail and do politics.

The Revolution begins….

Note

1 really really want lyrics – Search Amazingly the lyrics of this song reveal Keith’s problem.

Addendum: Turnout increased in every single ward

• Beam Park – 32.63% (2022: 30.8%)

• Cranham – 54.49% (40.83%) (HRA win)

• Elm Park – 47.56% (35.51%)

• Emerson Park – 52.7% (41.11%)

• Gooshays – 35.2% (23.46%)

• Hacton – 51.23% (41.2%)

• Harold Wood – 48.19% (35.6%)

• Havering-atte-Bower – 42.14% (29.16%)

• Heaton – 32.2% (lowest – Reform win) (23.79%)

• Hylands & Harrow Lodge – 50.81% (37.83%)

• Marshalls and Rise Park – 51.8% (41.13)

• Mawneys – 45.03% (33.56)

• Rainham & Wennington – 44.97% (35.12%)

• Rush Green – 39.95% (32.84%)

• South Hornchurch – 42.6% (31.8%)

• Squirrels Heath – 49.78% (38.54%)

• St Alban’s – 43.95% (36.84%)

• St Andrew’s – 50.52% (38.98%)

• St Edward’s – 42.32% (32.87)

• Upminster – 56% (highest – HRA win) (42.3%)

Source Local Election 2026 Results | London Borough of Havering and Local Elections 2022: Havering Council live results | London Borough of Havering

Havering’s Councillors make a difference: Podcast

Havering councillors make a difference – YouTube

HRA say that they are non-political but it is impossible to run a council without making political choices. This podcast discusses the 30 minute free period for Hornchurch and Upminster. It also looks at the previous Conservative Administration, 2018-22, and their decisions.

The podcast is 3 minutes long

Havering’s Council Election, May 7th 2026

Discussion

Between 2022-26 the Conservatives collapsed after numerous defections. The principal beneficiaries were the HRA Administration. Three Conservatives joined Reform UK at the end of the period.

Reform could matter in 2026. The Green party existed in 2022 but was disregarded. That changed after their recent parliamentary victory. They aren’t as well organised as Reform but might do well and will certainly split the vote.

Electors can choose from a large number of candidates and parties. For example, HRA isn’t a single party, it’s an umbrella organisation.1 There are Conservatives, Greens, Labour, Independent RAs, and Reform standing as political parties. There are 302 candidates for 55 seats.

Low turnouts make elections a lottery. Voting is normally based on name recognition, or the first initial of the surname, or scattergun, or selection of a party. Gooshays in 2022 had a turnout of 23.46%.2 Winning literally depended on marginal decisions. In 2026 Gooshays has 20 candidates for three seats.

Conclusion

Havering traditionally has Minority Administrations. It’s a certainty to happen once more in 2026. But….Even certainties lose.

Addendum: Wards, sitting councillors and additional candidates

Beam Park (2 ward councillors) ~ Two Labour councillors plus 9 (more candidates)

Cranham (3) ~ Two HRA councillors plus 14

Elm Park (3) ~ Two HRA councillors plus 14

Emerson Park (2) ~ 11 (no councillors standing)

Gooshays (3) ~ One Labour; One HRA councillor plus 18

Hacton (2) ~ One HRA councillor plus 10

Harold Wood (3) ~ Three East Havering RA councillors plus 15

Havering-Atte-Bower (3) ~ One HRA councillor plus 16

Heaton (3) ~ Two Labour councilors plus 14

Hylands and Harrow Lodge (3) ~ One HRA councillor plus 14

Marshalls and Rise Park (3) ~ Two HRA; One Reform councillor plus 13

Mawneys (3) ~ Three Conservative councillors plus 13

Rainham and Wennington (3) ~ One HRA councillor plus 15

Rush Green and Crowlands (3) ~ Two Conservatives plus 14

South Hornchurch (2) ~ Two HRA councillors plus 10

Squirrels Heath (3) ~ One Conservative; One Reform councillor plus 15

St Albans (2) ~ One Conservative; One Labour councillor plus 9

St Andrews (3) ~ One HRA councillor plus 15

St Edwards (3) ~ 16 (No councillors standing)

Upminster (3) ~ Two HRA councillors plus 14

Three councillors are standing for wards that they didn’t represent 2022-6

Notes

1 Two cabinet members voted against HRA policy without resigning for example.

2 Local Elections 2022: Havering Council live results | London Borough of Havering

Andrew Rosindell ~ Parting is such sweet sorrow

Margaret Thatcher House1 83 days AFTER Andrew defected to Reform

Q1) Are the Conservatives hoping Andrew will return to save them on May 7th?

Or,

Q2) Are they too broke to remove Andrew’s legacy?

Addendum: Evicted from Margaret Thatcher House

Andrew lost his legal bid to retain his office2 in Margaret Thatcher House BUT amazingly the House of Commons says nothing has changed:

Constituency office

Margaret Thatcher House
85 Western Road
Romford
RM1 3LS

Notes

1 This is Conservative Party Head Quarters. Photos taken on 7th April 2026

2 Source Contact information for Andrew Rosindell – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament Accessed 8th April 2026