Reform UK Rejects Havering Hexit After 2026 Election Victory Havering 2026

Key Points

• Reform UK won control of Havering Council with 39 of 55 seats in May 2026, marking the party’s first London borough victory
• The “Hexit” campaign proposed Havering exiting the Greater London Authority (GLA) and rejoining Essex, an issue promoted by some Reform UK members during local elections
• New council leader Keith Prince, confirmed Wednesday after the election, ruled out pursuing Hexit, calling it a “waste of time”
• Prince stated residents would be “significantly worse off financially” if Havering left London, citing his research
• Opposition parties accused Reform UK of misleading local voters on the Hexit issue, a charge the party has denied
• A London borough cannot legally split from the GLA without central government legislation
• Havering Residents Association (HRA) fell from 23 councillors to 14, becoming official opposition
• Reform UK gained 36 seats in a dramatic swing, wiping out Conservatives who now have zero seats
• Keith Prince is a former senior Conservative, previously leader of Redbridge Council and Tory GLA member
• Reform MP Andrew Rosindell insisted the borough should have an option to rejoin Essex

Havering (East London Times) June 16, 2026 – Reform UK’s election campaign raised the prospect of Havering leaving Greater London — a position their local leader now disowns, sparking accusations that the party may have misled voters on the controversial “Hexit” issue.

What Exactly Is Hexit and Why Does It Matter to Havering Residents?

You’ve probably heard of Brexit — but what about Hexit? That’s the idea of the borough of Havering exiting the Greater London Authority (GLA) and going it alone.

The modern London Borough of Havering was created in 1965 after the reorganisation and creation of the 32 London boroughs, formerly part of Essex and formed from the old borough of Romford and the urban district of Hornchurch.

How Did Reform UK Achieve Control of Its First London Borough?

A change in the political weather saw Reform UK win control of its first London borough in May, as it seized power from the Havering Residents Association, which had been running it. With 39 of the borough’s 55 councillors occupied by Reform, the Havering Residents’ Association (HRA) are now the official opposition with 14 councillors, down from 23. Reform UK gained 36 seats in a dramatic swing, unseating the dominant Havering Residents’ Association (HRA) which fell to 14 seats and the Conservatives who were wiped out with zero seats.

Why Did New Council Leader Keith Prince Rule Out Hexit?

As reported by (journalist) of (The Independent), Keith Prince, a former senior Conservative who was confirmed as leader of Havering London Borough Council on Wednesday, insisted pursuing the option of an exit from the GLA would be a waste of time.

“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,”

Prince stated during a council meeting.

Acknowledging the opposition resident association’s warnings of the financial impact, Mr Prince 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”.

Did Reform UK Mislead Voters on Hexit During the Election Campaign?

But the new council leader, who was never much of a fan of the idea, has kicked it into the long grass, prompting accusations from opposition parties that Reform UK may have misled local voters on the issue — a charge the party has denied. This topic gained traction among some members of Reform UK during the local elections held in May.

As reported on AOL.com, Reform UK’s new Havering Council leader thinks Hexit is a waste of time and money, dismissing the idea in his first meeting of the council just over a fortnight after the election.

Is Hexit Actually Legal for a London Borough?

A London borough does not have the power to split from the GLA. That would require legislation from central government. The short answer is no.

There is currently no legal mechanism by which a London borough can simply withdraw from London. For Havering or Bromley to leave London it would require primary legislation and a reorganisation of both London’s local government boundaries, as well as policing, transport, and other public services.

What Do Reform UK MPs Say About Havering Rejoining Essex?

Mr Farage said: ‘Many (local people) 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’.

Speaking in Parliament last year, Andrew Rosindell, Reform MP for the Romford constituency in Havering, also insisted the borough should have an option to rejoin Essex.

“Ever since then, our Essex identity has tragically been diminished and even discarded by some, as if centuries of history in belonging to such a great English county could end simply because of local government reorganisation, which was lazy in its construction and took no account of our history,”

Rosindell said.

“Romford is geographically Essex. We are historically Essex. We are culturally Essex and our social, sporting and commercial connections have always looked towards the county of Essex”.

What Services Would Havering Lose If It Left London?

As reported by (journalist) of (BBC News), Reform is proposing to shift Havering out of London and into Essex; if that occurs, you would lose your bus pass, experience a reduction in police presence, and see a significant cut in fire services. The Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade, along with the Freedom Pass and other travel concessions, serve all 32 London boroughs.

A spokesperson told The Standard:

“[Mr Rosindell] fails to explain to residents the devolution deal and local government reorganisation taking place in Essex, the fact Thurrock Council has an excessive budget deficit, that there are multiple housing developments taking place in Essex, that we would lose access to the MET Police, London Ambulance Service, outer London Weighting, London Travel Pass, access to top London health provision, GLA grant funding and access to successful collaborative working with London Councils”.

What Was the Political History of Havering Before Reform UK’s Victory?

Labour’s representation has declined since 1998, while the Havering Residents Association (HRA) has gained traction in the past decade, challenging Conservative dominance. Initially, the council was governed by a coalition of HRA and Labour, transitioning to an HRA minority administration in 2024.

Following the elections, several Conservative members defected to Reform UK, which now has three councillors, and to HRA, which has increased to 25 councillors, leaving the Conservatives with 14.

Traditionally Havering has been a Tory borough. Straddling London and south Essex, it is where the aspiring white middle classes go when they have outgrown Barking. The Residents Association had 23 councillors and now have 14 – a reduction of 9.

How Did Nigel Farage Respond to Prince’s Hexit Rejection?

Mr Prince, previously leader of Redbridge Council and a Tory member of the Greater London Assembly (GLA), stood next to Mr Farage as he hailed his party’s victory outside Havering Town Hall the morning after the election.

Yet during a council meeting on Wednesday, Mr Prince insisted pursuing the option of an exit from the GLA would be a waste of time, directly contradicting Farage’s position.

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”.

Background on Havering and the Hexit Development

The modern London Borough of Havering was created in 1965 after the reorganisation and creation of the 32 London boroughs.

Formerly part of Essex, it was formed from the old borough of Romford and the urban district of Hornchurch. Havering became part of the GLA when the London Government Act 1963 established the Greater London administrative region.

Havering has been won by Reform UK after the party gained majority control of the borough in its first London council win.

The result, confirmed after counts into the early hours, gives Reform an overall majority in the 55-seat council. Keith Anthony Prince (born September 1958) is a British Reform UK politician who has served as leader of Havering London Borough Council since May 2026, and as Member of the London Assembly (AM) for Havering and Redbridge since 2016.

Reform UK achieved control of its inaugural London borough in May, taking over from the Havering Residents Association, which had previously governed the area. The 2022 Election Outcomes showed voter turnout was 35%, with a 7.6% shift from Conservative to HRA.

Prediction: How This Development Can affect Havering Residents

This development can significantly affect Havering residents in multiple ways. The ruling out of Hexit means residents will maintain access to current London services including the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, Freedom Pass, London Ambulance Service, and outer London Weighting. Residents who voted for Reform UK expecting Hexit may feel disappointed that the council leader has dismissed the proposal as a “waste of time”.

The financial impact Prince cited suggests residents would face reduced financial wellbeing if Hexit proceeded, potentially affecting household budgets and local economic conditions. The political shift means Reform UK’s 39 councillors will now control council decisions for the next four years, potentially changing local policies on housing, planning, and community services.

Opposition parties’ accusations that Reform UK misled voters could create ongoing political tension and affect voter trust in future elections.

The Conservative wipeout with zero seats fundamentally alters the political landscape, removing a traditional voice in council deliberations. Residents ’emotionally attached to the attraction of leaving London’ may continue to advocate for Essex identity despite the council’s position.

The fact that Hexit requires central government legislation means the issue remains legally impossible without parliamentary action, limiting resident options for changing the borough’s status. Prince’s commitment to “getting Havering back on track” suggests council priorities will focus on local governance improvements rather than constitutional changes.