The Reform party is believed to be ‘divisive, fear-mongering and intimidating’. But probably not in Havering. However, until May 2026 many Havering councillors in their Register of Interests statements gave home addresses, employment details and much more.1 Now the Register is a ‘need-to-know’ statement.
There is a legal expectation that councillors list their employment and address. Only a well-founded fear that they will suffer violence or intimidation of them or their family over-rides this obligation. It’s implausible all 55 councillors asked for protection from violence or intimidation of them or their family. It’s so implausible it looks like a coordinated and significant attack on democratic values.
What’s going on?
Here are ten case studies1.
Robert Attree:2 He answered ‘None’ to all 12 questions. Didn’t Keith Prince explain that’s he’s now a public figure.
Malvin Brown: He’s a landlord but replied ‘Withheld’ to Q4 about property owned in Havering. A landlord without property? Is this the equivalent of a pub without beer?
Graham Day: He’s an optometrist but doesn’t say where or who he works for.
George Harwin: He’s employed but it’s a ‘secret’. Does he work for Nigel Farage?
Joe Lock: He owns land ‘outside’ Havering but none inside Havering. Does he live in Havering?
Barry Mugglestone: He’s changed his tune. Prior to May he used to say what buy-to-let property he owned but now it’s withheld. Why?
Alex Sibley: He’s a landlord who doesn’t list his property. Perhaps he’s very rich and wants to conceal it?
Angelica Ola: A young woman who allegedly hasn’t got a job or property. How does she defy economic gravity?
John Tyler: Another councillor with property which is unidentified. “Violence or intimidation” must stalk the mean streets of Cranham.
Robert Whitton: He’s a ‘Master of the Universe’ investor BUT he doesn’t own property in Havering. This is implausible. Perhaps he doesn’t live in Havering?
Discussion
Does it matter? Is it nit-picking?
Havering has 55 councillors. They were elected to work on behalf of the community and it’s very important their biases are understood. Most councillors are male, rich property owners and middle-aged or old. At least eight councillors are landlords and eleven are directors of various businesses. The electorate need this information when reviewing their substantive decisions.
How is it possible that every councillor has deliberately avoided basic questions. Are they all living in fear? Decision-making is coloured by people’s biases. Those biases are influenced by wealth, age, and their lived experiences. Councillors must put aside personal preferences to make good decisions for the community. Havering is hurtling towards bankruptcy and very difficult decisions will be made in the near future.
Councillors who base decisions on the protection of their own ‘sacred cows’ are thoughtlessly reacting. They aren’t reviewing the actuality. Reacting isn’t a policy, it’s a reliance on prejudice. Its only virtue is making powerful councillors happy.
Addendum: The right to not reveal personal details
The sensitive interests’ provisions provide for details about a registered interest to be excluded from versions of the Register of Interests available for public inspection (or published online) where a member and monitoring officer agree that the disclosure of that interest could lead to violence or intimidation of them or their family. They provide for members to disclose that they have an interest but for the details to be withheld from the public register.
Source: Simon Hoare, Letter from ‘Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 18th March 2024 (my emphasis) This is guidance on Localism Act, 2011, Section 32.
Notes
1 I know of no example of a councillor, who revealed their address or employment details and were then subject to “Violence or intimidation”. 2 Your Councillors | London Borough of Havering You go to the councillor that you want to review and click on *Register of Interests*. This example is given because he’s the first member on the list Councillor details – Councillor Robert Attree | London Borough of Havering
Politics in Havering 
Great work. It’s clear they’re abusing the regulations here. It’s Havering, politics is hardly a violent affair here other than the anti-ULEZ vandalism, there should have to be a police sign-off or something to indicate a legitimate threat to welfare/safety. Otherwise everyone’s just going to withhold their information and the register of interests no longer serves the public.
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The Register has been gutted on entirely specious grounds. I’ve been writing this blog for 7 years and there hasn’t been a single example of violence or intimidation. What’s amazing is that there are a number of councillors who did give their details but now don’t.
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