The Havering Residents’ Association (HRA) umbrella group was formed for the 2022 election. They had dramatic success and the Conservatives were ousted. An HRA-Labour coalition took their place.1
The dodging and diving began immediately.
Within weeks, Rainham’s three Conservative councillors joined HRA. This set the scene for three years of shameless anti-democratic opportunism. Seven more councillors have ratted on the electorate, without troubling the electorate. Amazingly, an especially flaky councillor has done it twice.
Sarah Edwards, Jacqueline McArdle and Susan Ospreay
Rainham ward: From Conservative to HRA. And Jacqueline McArdle: From HRA to Conservative when she changed her mind again.
Philip Ruck and John Tyler
Cranham ward: From HRA to Cranham Independent ~ John was an associate HRA member but Philip definitely did defect.
Paul McGeary
Gooshays ward: From Labour to HRA. This was spectacular. 1) He smashed the coalition and 2) he, importantly for him, kept his £25,000 pa cabinet position. He’s unlikely to keep his seat in 2026.
John Crowder
Havering-Atte-Bower ward: From Conservative to HRA
Phillippa Crowder and Robby Misir
Marshalls and Rise Park ward: From Conservative to HRA
Keith Prince
Squirrels Heath ward: From Conservative to Reform. This is notable as Keith is one of the most senior politicians in Havering.
And a special mention for,
Damian White
Damian hasn’t defected. He’s sulked since losing the Conservative leadership toKeith Prince. Damian has had very poor attendance for three years.2
Conclusion
Eleven potential by-elections haven’t happened. By-elections are not obligatory. It is, however, undemocratic to change parties and deny voters the chance to approve or not. Most defections are ‘froth’ without political significance.
Keith’s defection matters because he believes HRA’s domination is ending. He also thinks the Conservatives will become a rump, like the Labour party. Keith’s defection is a significant ‘straw in the wind’.
Havering’s bizarre politics will continue in 2026.
Notes
1 5 May 2022 Local Election Results in Havering
2 Your Councillors | London Borough of Havering This is correct as of 9th November 2025. For attendance for the last six months see Councillors attendance summary, 18 May 2025 – 10 November 2025 | London Borough of Havering
Politics in Havering 
Wondering if you have written about how the HRA actually came to be in any detail before? Would be interested if so.
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Thank you for your comment
This one is in the same territory
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You missed Cllr Christine Smith (Hylands and Harrow Lodge ward), Con to Havering Residents Association (HRA).
The ward returned one Con and 2 Hornchurch Residents Association (HXRA) councillors and would probably have been 3 HXRA if they’d put up 3 candidates. The 2 HXRA then joined HRA without holding by-elections.
The ward was a new Hornchurch ward created following the boundary review that RA councillors were accusing Damian of trying to fix and the 2 HXRA surprise victors had only agreed to stand on the promise they were only paper candidates with no prospect of winning!
The 2 Hornchurch RA candidates won simply because they had the right name on the ballot paper despite no election campaign with one of the losing conservative candidates wailing at the injustice of it all.
Presumably Cllr Smith thinks joining HRA and then standing as HXRA next time secures re-election.
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Thank you for your comment
It was a mistake and thank you for pointing it out.
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