Key Points
- Keith Prince, London Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge and Havering councillor, has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK after nearly 50 years of party membership.
- Prince served as leader of Redbridge Borough Council from 2009 to 2014 and led the Havering Conservatives from 2023 until January 2025.
- His defection grants Reform UK official group status on the London Assembly for the first time, with two members allowing committee representation.
- Prince stated the Conservative Party is “done and dusted” and no longer an effective opposition to the Labour government.
- Nigel Farage welcomed Prince’s move, calling it a “historic moment” for Reform UK’s growth in London politics.
- The defection occurred just before the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, following a wave of other Tory councillors switching to Reform UK nationally.
- In Hampshire and Dorset, several councillors including Cllr Barry Dunning have defected, citing misalignment with current Conservative policies.
- Eighteen Conservative councillors defected to Reform UK on the third day of the Conservative Party Conference, according to Yahoo News.
- Reform UK gained over 660 council seats in recent local elections, taking control of eight councils previously held by Conservatives.
- The Havering Residents Association (HRA) currently leads Havering Council, while the Conservatives serve as the main opposition.
- Since the 2022 local elections, seven Conservative councillors in Havering have already defected to the HRA, citing financial challenges and local priorities.
What Led Keith Prince to Leave the Conservative Party After Nearly 50 Years?
As reported by The Havering Daily, Keith Prince announced his defection to Reform UK on October 3, 2025, marking a significant shift in London’s political landscape. Prince, who has served as a Conservative for almost five decades, stated:
“I am delighted that from today I will be sitting as a Reform UK member on the London Assembly. The Conservative party is done and dusted. While it may have served a purpose once, it is no longer an effective opposition to this failing Labour government. Reform UK is the only party speaking for ordinary, patriotic working people and I’m excited to be part of its future”.
Prior to his defection, Prince held prominent leadership roles, including serving as leader of Redbridge Borough Council from 2009 to 2014 and leading the Havering Conservatives from 2023 until January 2025, when he stepped down reportedly due to personal and professional changes. According to OnLondon, Prince had increasingly aligned with the right wing of the party and had supported other right-leaning figures who later joined Reform UK.
How Significant Is Reform UK’s Presence in the London Assembly Following Prince’s Defection?
With Keith Prince joining Alex Wilson, Reform UK now has two members on the Greater London Assembly, granting the party official group status for the first time. This development allows Reform UK to receive committee seats proportional to their representation, enhancing their influence in policy debates.
BBC News explains that the assembly consists of 25 members, and since Prince’s defection, the composition is 11 Labour, 7 Conservative, 3 Green, 2 Liberal Democrat, and 2 Reform UK members. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, hailed Prince’s arrival as historic for the party’s growth in London politics, stating:
“This is a historic moment for the party. With Keith’s defection, Reform UK now have an official group on the London Assembly for the first time. Our impressive progress in London continues, and we are building our momentum ahead of London’s local elections next May”.
What Political Reactions Followed Prince’s Defection?
The Conservative Party and Labour responded critically to the news of Prince’s defection. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, interviewed by the BBC, suggested that Reform UK relies on slogans and lacks serious policy depth, contrasting Reform UK’s positions with the Conservatives’ more detailed legal and diplomatic work on issues like the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and border control.
A Labour Party spokesperson used the occasion to critique Tory leadership, saying:
“Kemi Badenoch has adopted policies she once opposed because she is too weak to stand up to her own party in the face of Reform. While the Tories and Reform fight amongst themselves, this Labour Government is cracking down on people-smuggling gangs, deporting foreign criminals, and bringing forward workable and decisive solutions to bring order to Britain’s borders”.
How Does This Defection Impact the Conservative Party and Its Leadership Under Kemi Badenoch?
The defection of Keith Prince is seen as a blow to the Conservative leadership, particularly Kemi Badenoch, the party leader in London. London Loves Business describes it as a significant setback for Badenoch’s efforts to unify and lead the party, coming just before the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.
Prince stepping down as transport spokesman for the City Hall Conservatives earlier in the week signalled his growing disenchantment. The Telegraph notes his view that the Conservative Party has effectively “run its course” and failed to oppose the Labour Government efficiently, prompting his move to Reform UK.
OnLondon’s analysis contextualises Prince’s decision within the unique electoral climate of Havering, where local Residents’ Associations challenge Conservative dominance and Reform UK makes inroads, suggesting the Right wing future may be “Reform” rather than Tory.
What Historical and Local Context Influences the Political Dynamics in Havering?
Havering has a distinctive political landscape with a strong presence of local Residents’ Associations that outperformed Conservatives in the 2022 borough elections, leading to a non-political group forming council leadership. This local dynamic affects party politics.
Farage’s Reform UK has previously seen success in Havering, winning multiple council seats through UKIP historically and posting strong performances recently. Local MPs like Julia Lopez and Andrew Rosindell faced strong Reform UK challenges in elections, reflecting shifting voter sentiments.
Keith Prince’s move, therefore, carries importance both locally and across London’s political scene.
What Does This Defection Mean for Future London Local Elections?
Reform UK’s growing presence, as highlighted by Farage, suggests the party is positioning itself as a viable alternative on the right of London politics ahead of the local elections in May 2026. The official group status in the Assembly could enhance their visibility and influence in policy debates.
Prince joining the party adds an experienced politician to Reform UK’s ranks, potentially attracting further defections or support among disillusioned Conservative voters and councillors in key London boroughs like Havering and Redbridge.
Nationally, Reform UK has made significant strides, securing over 660 council seats in recent local elections and taking control of eight councils previously held by Conservatives, including in Kent and Staffordshire. The party also gained control of Doncaster, the sole council Labour was defending, and Durham, where Labour had been dominant.
With eighteen Conservative councillors defecting to Reform UK on the third day of the Conservative Party Conference, according to Yahoo News, the momentum appears to be building. This wave of defections, combined with Prince’s high-profile switch, raises questions about whether more Havering Tory councillors could follow suit in the coming months.
