Reform UK London Assembly members Keith Prince and Alex Wilson walked out of a City Hall meeting on Thursday afternoon, causing chaos during a plenary session. The walkout was triggered by a dispute over a motion concerning Havering's potential departure from London.
Dispute Over Motion
The two Reform members blamed the chair, Conservative Andrew Boff, for admitting a Liberal Democrat motion that they claimed falsely stated that Cllr Prince, Leader of Havering Council, had rejected the principle of a referendum on Havering gaining independence from London. Prince insisted he had never ruled out such a referendum and has repeatedly stated he is open to it if there is enough public demand.
Prince said: “This motion is a shameless, unveiled attempt to sow disagreement between myself and my party colleagues where it doesn’t exist. By walking out of the Assembly today, we have made it abundantly clear that Reform UK will not stand for political gameplaying.” He argued that the “flagrantly misleading motion should have never been admitted by the chair.”
Conservative Response
Susan Hall, leader of the Tories on the assembly, responded: “I'm disappointed that Reform chose to leave the debate rather than stay behind to defend their comments, represent their constituents, and engage in the process. If they believed they'd been misrepresented, then the floor would have been theirs to make a stand. Instead what we have seen is Havering voters misled at the election and now abandoned on the floor of the Assembly, because Reform can't make their mind up.”
Background on Havering Independence
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell, who defected from the Tories to Reform, previously raised the prospect of Havering splintering away from London. Ahead of the May local elections, Nigel Farage suggested other east Outer London boroughs, including Bromley and Bexley, could also quit the capital. After Reform won control of Havering, Farage said: “Many (local people) feel that their association is with Essex and ever since 1965 have slightly resented being part of Greater London.”
Prince's Stance on Referendum
During a council meeting later in May, Prince, a former leader of Redbridge council and ex-Tory, made clear he would not prioritise pursuing moves for a Havering independence vote. He said: “I was born in (a part of) the county Essex which later became Havering. I can understand people’s attachment to our historic county identity. However, let me make this crystal clear. At this moment in time, from the research that I have done, it is quite clear that many of our residents would be significantly worse off financially if we were to leave London.” He added: “So, while there are those who are emotionally attached to the attraction of leaving London, I and this administration have yet to be presented with a well-thought research and costed proposal which outlines the benefits to our residents. Therefore, we will not be wasting our time pursuing ‘Hexit’ or leaving the Greater London Authority, but we will be concentrated our time and energies on getting Havering back on track.”
Pressure on Havering Council
Cllr Prince is under intense pressure to deliver major positive changes in Havering, which is one of Reform’s flagship councils. The council has already been hit by controversy after it emerged that the Mayor’s consort, Starbuck Coleman, had previously been dismissed from a job as a police officer after failing a drugs test.
