Terri Bloore Launches Conservative Bid for Newham Mayor Newham 2026

Key Points

• Terri Bloore, the Conservative candidate for Mayor of Newham, has announced her candidacy, embracing the challenge despite Labour’s long dominance since at least 1930.
• Newham faces severe challenges including a housing crisis, ballooning public expenditure, strained public services, high deprivation, the title of UK’s Littering Capital, and one of London’s highest knife crime rates.
• Labour-controlled council nearly went bankrupt, implementing a crisis strategy with a proposed 9% Council Tax increase—one of the highest in the country—impacting services.
• Current Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz is stepping down, yet Labour continues campaigning with “Leadership you can rely on.”
• Bloore’s plans: Restore financial trust by selling underused Newham Dockside (cost £111 million), prioritising front-line services, boosting police presence to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour, and fare dodging.
• Commitments to improve street cleanliness with quicker responses and tougher penalties for fly-tipping; prioritise housing development to reduce temporary accommodation and support leaseholders.
• Propose abolishing business rates to support local businesses, attract investment, create jobs, and foster pride in cleaner, safer streets.
• Emphasises Conservative values of fairness, equality, and work ethic to unlock Newham’s potential in this culturally diverse, rapidly growing borough.

Newham (East London Times) February 26, 2026 – Terri Bloore, the Conservative candidate challenging Labour’s stronghold in the May 2026 mayoral election, has launched her campaign with a bold declaration of intent to tackle the borough’s entrenched crises. In a personal statement outlining her motivations and plans, Bloore positions herself as the underdog ready to deliver change in one of London’s most deprived and diverse areas. She highlights Labour’s decades-long control, recent near-bankruptcy, and failures in housing, crime, cleanliness, and finances, vowing to restore trust through efficient management and investment.

Who is Terri Bloore and Why is She Standing for Mayor?

Terri Bloore describes herself as someone who thrives on challenges, backed by a career demonstrating hard work and ambition. As reported directly in her campaign statement published via local channels, Bloore stated:

“I like a challenge, I always have. I work hard and am ambitious in my plans – my career to date proves that. So, I have thrown my hat in the ring for Mayor of Newham, despite the odds.”

She acknowledges the steep odds, noting Labour’s dominance since at least 1930, with the party securing 90 per cent or more of seats in every local election since 1978. Yet, Bloore points to recent by-election losses as signs of vulnerability.

“Yes, the odds are really stacked against me, but I, like most of the British, like the underdog. I also truly believe the time is right in Newham for change,”

she added in her statement.

Newham’s profile as the capital’s most culturally diverse and rapidly growing community underscores her pitch. Bloore frames local issues not as statistics but “lived realities” affecting daily life, from housing shortages to economic strains.

What Challenges is Newham Facing Under Labour?

Bloore paints a stark picture of Newham’s woes under Labour’s watch. The borough narrowly escaped bankruptcy, forcing a crisis strategy that includes seeking government aid and permission for a 9 per cent Council Tax hike—one of the UK’s highest. This has strained services and support for residents, as Bloore notes in her statement:

“This has hugely affected the services and necessary support that the Borough can offer residents.”

Newham holds the unwanted title of Littering Capital of the UK, boasts one of London’s highest knife crime rates, and ranks among the most deprived boroughs. As per her campaign announcement, Bloore highlighted:

“Under Labour’s watch, Newham now holds the dubious title of Littering Capital of the UK, one of the highest rates of knife crime in London and is one of the most deprived boroughs.”

The announcement of Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz stepping down has not quelled Bloore’s criticism of Labour’s ongoing campaign literature.

“The current Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, has rightly announced she is stepping down, yet it has not stopped Labour flouting ‘Leadership you can rely on’ in a pamphlet I had through the door of my Newham flat. You couldn’t make it up!”

Bloore remarked, pointing to perceived hypocrisy.

Financial mismanagement is a core theme.

“Labour, as we know, has never been strong on the economy, but this financial mismanagement takes the biscuit,”

she asserted.

How Will Terri Bloore Restore Financial Trust?

Bloore’s flagship pledge centres on rebuilding financial transparency and efficiency. Her campaign will prioritise “a thriving local economy and resilient neighbourhoods,” linking business success to community strength. As outlined in her statement:

“My campaign will be driven to bring back financial trust in Newham Council. I believe a thriving local economy and resilient neighbourhoods go hand in hand — with successful businesses creating jobs, investment and opportunity, while strong communities.”

Concrete steps include selling Newham Dockside, a council building Labour spent £111 million on that now stands “practically empty.” Bloore explained:

“Just one example of how I would do this is by selling of Newham Dockside, the Council Building that Labour spent £111 million on, yet stands practically empty. A business that doesn’t take regular inventory, of course, will go bust and we need to look at all efficiencies large and small to make these savings.”

Services face evaluation, with front-line priorities to ease the burden on residents.

“Services will need to be evaluated and front-line services will be prioritised to reducing the financial burden on residents,”

she committed. Attracting investment, she argues, will restore pride, leading to “cleaner, safer streets.”

What Specific Cuts and Savings Does She Propose?

Bloore calls for “uncomfortable moments assessing what we really need and what is nice to have,” targeting wasteful spending across the board.

Why Does Newham Need More Police Presence?

Public safety is a priority, with Bloore slamming under-supported policing. She demands more officers on streets to combat anti-social behaviour, crime, and fare dodging at unmanned stations. In her words:

“Once such vital service that has been woefully under supported is our police. We need more police on our streets to deal with anti-social behaviour and crime. More police presence, will ensure criminals are prosecuted and fined and residents feel safe. We can also deal with fare dodgers too who seemingly go scott-free when our stations are left unmanned.”

This ties into broader safety goals, fostering environments where residents feel secure.

How Will Streets Be Cleaned Up in Newham?

Tackling litter and fly-tipping head-on, Bloore promises quicker response times and tougher penalties for repeat offenders.

“I truly believe that by improving street cleanliness through quicker response times and tougher penalties for repeat offenders of fly tipping, we can quickly bring back pride onto our streets, and again bring money back into the borough,”

she stated. This measure aims to reverse the Littering Capital stigma swiftly.

What is Her Plan for Newham’s Housing Crisis?

Housing emerges as critical, with Bloore targeting high numbers in temporary accommodation and leaseholders burdened by management fees.

“We need to be prioritising the development of housing for residents, addressing the high number of households in temporary accommodation, and support for leaseholders who are held over a barrel by management fees,”

she pledged. Developments must focus on residents’ needs amid the deep-rooted crisis.

How Will She Boost Local Businesses and the Economy?

Economic revival hinges on supporting businesses. Bloore advocates abolishing business rates entirely.

“Finally, I believe in my heart that we must support local businesses in Newham and boost the economy. We can only do this by abolishing business rates,”

she declared. Investment will follow, creating jobs and opportunities.

She envisions Newham’s “extraordinary potential” unlocked under Conservative leadership, contrasting past “mishandling.”

“Newham has extraordinary potential but has never witnessed the opportunities that a Conservative led council could bring. It is a shame and we have seen this in the mishandling of the Borough in the past decades,”

Bloore reflected.

What Conservative Values Will Shape Her Leadership?

Closing on principles, Bloore invokes fairness, equality, and work ethic.

“With the right leadership, we can support local businesses, restore trust in local government, and build communities where people feel safe, listened to and proud to live. I know we can do this, I know the Conservative values of fairness, equality and good work ethic will make Newham a place businesses and residents are proud of again,”

she concluded.

Her campaign arrives ahead of the May 2026 election, amid Labour’s by-election setbacks and Fiaz’s departure. As East London’s most diverse borough grapples with these realities, Bloore’s underdog bid tests whether voters seek change. Coverage of her statement has appeared in local outlets, amplifying calls for accountability.