Category: local politics

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

Havering’s Data Centre Consultation, 25th March 2026

The consultation meeting held at the Town Hall was challenging. The room was inadequate. Neither the acoustics nor sightlines aided discussion. These problems were exacerbated by a chair who was inexperienced. Panel members huddled defensively behind computer screens instead of standing and clearly addressing the meeting. As a result, members of the public were helplessly holding up their hands for inordinate periods of time.

Havering’s Friends of the Earth: A Visualisation

The group1 have produced a visualisation to aid understanding. The link is here:

HFoE – VDC Tour

Greenwashing

As with all intrusive industrialisation projects, there are heroic efforts to greenwash. The pretence is that there is an environmental gain from the industrial use of the Green Belt. The offer here is an ‘ecology park’ and small-scale agriculture.

This is a tragic lost opportunity. The Data Centre will become Havering’s industrial frontier. Why not go the whole hog? Why not pivot towards intensive industrial farming?2 Another warehouse would fit in visually and help meet Britain’s insatiable desire for salad food all year round. Industrial farming would curb imports and the destructive carbon footprint miles.

The ‘ecology park’ is comically misplaced. It’s as appropriate as putting it at the junction of the M25 and A13. Far better would be land south of Albyns Farm in Hornchurch Country Park.3 A sensitive development would enhance the ‘jewel in the crown’ that is the country park. It’s possible to imagine the ‘ecology park’ being a destination if placed in a country park. It is impossible to imagine people having a day out next to industrial warehouses.

Finally

Section 106 agreements could show ambition. A Data Centre is massively intrusive and alters the character of Havering. The Council should be demanding significant and bold investment in Havering as a mitigation of the industrialisation of the Green Belt.

Notes

1 Havering Friends of the Earth

2 Vertical Farming Transforms The Farm-to-Fork Supply Chain

3 Havering’s Finest Park – Politics in Havering

Havering’s Environment Election Hustings, 17th March 2026

Hustings used to be feisty. Heckling was a sport. Violent arguments between different factions were routine. Candidates1 had to be quick witted as they faced a barrage of unscripted questions and abuse. Times change.

Havering Cyclists organised the event. It was chaired by Rob Enifer of the Romford Town Wombles. There was a genteel discussion of environmental issues in Havering. Questions2 were pre-distributed to candidates, and no-one was ‘ambushed’. They were given two minutes for initial replies. It was fair, purposeful and informative.

The event was lucky with its candidates. They all showed a deep awareness of the principal issues. Gillian Ford had an excellent command of the issues and constantly referred to current Council policy achievements. She was well prepared, which fulfilled the organisers strategy of avoiding waffle.

Keith Darvill, Q1 (see below), interestingly said that he thought housing issues were the principal environmental challenge facing Havering.

Mark Whiley, Q2, hoped for innovative use of public land that was under-utilised.

Q3 was intractable for every candidate. Launders Lane is privately owned and the Council is apparently being held to ransom. A serious problem without an obvious solution.

Q4 Thomas Clark focused on the quality of pavements as well as dangerous roads as negatives for cycling. He worried about traffic flows, toxic air and traffic volumes.

The Q&A session

There was a telling exchange about the possibility, in Havering, of safer walking, wheeling and cycling for children and adults (Q4). Every candidate said this would fail. Mark Whiley said he felt unsafe on his bike. Thomas Clarke cited roads and pavements (again) and added potholes to his list of woes. Keith Darvill spoke of the lawlessness of drivers in regard to speed limits. Gillian Ford commented on Havering’s elderly population.

Surprisingly the last Q&A question referred to the proposed Data Centre. Answers were anodyne and reflected the grim inevitability of it going ahead with, or without, support from the Council. The issue is currently out to consultation.3

Addendum: Conservative and Reform UK

Neither party attended the hustings. Rightly or wrongly, it was believed they avoided the event because they are lukewarm on environmental issues. They avoided scrutiny of a critically important matter for a Green Borough. Havering is 50% ‘Green Belt’ and the management and promotion of that asset is cherishing the ‘Golden Goose’. It was noted that Reform UK’s Keith Prince made a song-and-dance at the recent Planning Committee about the Data Centre. Neither he, nor his representative, were present at the Environment Hustings to defend that position, which looks like political opportunism.

Notes

1 The candidates were,

 Councillor Gillian Ford, HRA Deputy Leader

 Councillor Keith Darvill, Labour Group Leader

Thomas Clarke from Havering Lib Dems and

Mark Whiley from Barking, Dagenham & Havering Green Party

2 The questions for every candidate were,

Q1) What’s your long-term vision for a cleaner, greener Havering and what would you prioritise as the most pressing issue?

Q2) Do you acknowledge the nature and climate crisis and what does that mean to you in terms of public investment and community involvement in Havering?

Q3) How will you resolve the Launders Lane environmental issues?

Q4) To what extent will you commit to safer walking, wheeling and cycling for children and adults in Havering?

Q5) Will you commit to keeping the ‘Green Forum’ running following the Local Elections in May, and what new ideas would you like to see added to this Forum?

3 Consultation procedure for the data centre East Havering Data Centre Consultation | London Borough of Havering