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:
- The Waterloo Estate fiasco
- Launders Lane contaminated land and air pollution
- The data centre on Green Belt Land
- £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
Politics in Havering 