After Reform won its first London council, residents spoke of why they thought the result happened
The local elections threw up a number of questions, with the traditional two-party system seemingly under threat. London was no exception, with both the Green Party and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK making significant gains. The latter even secured control of the council in the East London borough of Havering, making it the first of its kind.
Reform, led by Nigel Farage, won a majority of the council seats, taking 39 of the 55. Speaking outside Havering Town Hall, Mr Farage said that the win signalled a “historic shift” in British politics. MyLondon headed to Havering to speak to locals about the result.
Mandy Bonfield, 38, and Gary Meall, 56, said a “change was needed” when we spoke to them in Romford. They didn’t vote last week, but they are glad Reform took control. Mandy said: “I think Nigel Farage will make a difference.
“He talks like he wants to make a difference, and what we’ve got now, they’re not helping British citizens. We have our homeless on the streets, begging for food, and people struggling on the borderline, yet we are bringing more people in, and they are being housed. We are on the brink right now.”
She added: “I think it’s a great thing having them win. I hope they can help the nightlife here – Romford used to be the place to be. There’s a lot of crime here in Romford as well. I don’t feel comfortable coming down here at night, and it’s things like that I think Reform could help change. I’d like to be part of Essex again, as well – I’ve always felt like we were anyway.”
Gary said: “Something has got to change. I don’t see any difference between the two main parties. Whether you voted Labour or Conservative, they promise you the world and they just break every promise going. The two-party system hasn’t worked for a long time.
“Someone has to change that. We needed to give somebody else a chance.”
The main issues residents raised were the decline of the high street, support for the disabled, crime, and immigration. Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has also regularly suggested taking Havering out of London and making it an Essex council, as it once was.
Jared Green, 23, lives in neighbouring Thurrock, which also went Reform, and was not surprised that they managed to win in Havering. He said: “I think their policies are divisive. I don’t think they’ll be good for the economy.
“I’m not surprised [they won] because Labour have been pretty bad. I think Havering going Reform is a bad thing, and I don’t think they will do anything.”
Pat Smith, 51, said he was “sick of things not being delivered in Romford”. He said: “I voted Reform. I wanted change. They promised to revamp the town centre. It’s clear the rest of the borough felt like me because they swept it. We can only wait and see and hope that they do [deliver what they promised].
“As cabbies, we’ve got no work because nobody wants to come to Romford anymore. We’ve been forgotten. The market has declined. The parking is so expensive. There are no shops that attract people here. We have to wait and see what changes they can make here.”
Darren Grayson, 53, said: “I think the local people wanted change but want to know if they [Reform] can change their local council first before voting in the general election. If they notice an effect now, it’s like a test run to see [how good they are]. People want change in their own towns, but if they don’t deliver that, then they won’t vote for them later on.”
Rob Deprose is disabled, and said: “I think Reform will look after the disabled and the elderly more. A lot of false promises from Labour.
“I think Nigel Farage says the right things, and he feels more for the British people. We’ve got homeless and veterans sleeping rough on the streets, yet we’ve got hotels full of asylum seekers. Romford isn’t the same place anymore.”
Walking through Romford on a Thursday, boarded-up shops were a common sight. Local restaurant owner Afrim Arizi, who runs Pizzeria Di Napoli, didn’t vote but can understand why the borough switched.
He said: “I went to vote, but I decided against it. I didn’t know how any party were going to really change things. I’m not surprised Reform won, because I get a lot of customers who say they’re ready for a change.
“The high street needs to be improved. However, you remember in 2016, with Brexit, they said that in 10 years things would be better, but that didn’t happen. It doesn’t matter what party.”
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