Farage says Havering should have choice on being part of Greater London or Essex

Havering became the first London borough to be controlled by Reform UK after the party won 39 of the borough's 55 seats at the local elections on Thursday.

Speaking outside the council building on Friday morning (8 May), Farage said he was “delighted”, adding that the “best is yet to come”, in an apparent reference to ongoing vote counts across the UK.

Commenting on Havering’s inclusion in Greater London, he claimed that “many [locals] feel that their association is with Essex and ever since 1965 have slightly resented being part of Greater London”.

He added: “All I would say is people ought to have the choice to make a decision on that.

“So yes, people here ought to have that ability, ought to have that choice.”

All 23 Conservative councillors in Havering lost their seats at the polls, while Labour’s representation dropped from seven councillors to two. The Havering Residents Association is now the second largest party in the borough with 14 seats.

Farage’s remarks echo comments made last year by Romford’s Reform UK MP, Andrew Rosindell, who said Havering’s Essex identity had been “tragically diminished” since the borough joined Greater London in 1965.

Rosindell also claimed the Greater London region “is too big and too remote to meet the needs of a borough such as Havering”, adding that being part of the capital is “very costly” for local residents.

Adam Carey