Greens Hit Rosindell on Havering Tax Crisis 2026

Key Points

• Mark Whiley, Chair of Havering Green Party, criticises Romford MP Andrew Rosindell for voting six times for cuts to council funding and failing over sixteen years as a Conservative to address social care funding reform.​
• Central government funding to Havering reduced from £70m a year to £1.5m a year, contributing to year-on-year council tax rises, as business rates could not fill the gap amid post-pandemic trading difficulties and Labour’s National Insurance rise.​
• Green Party proposes a Local Business Lead to support local firms applying for council contracts, aiming to drive growth, create jobs, and boost business rates income.​
• Greens draw inspiration from community wealth building models like Preston in the North of England and other London councils, including breaking contracts into smaller pieces for local bidders and encouraging health and education providers to prioritise local procurement.
• Local Green candidates bring expertise in process automation, project management, small business ownership, and finance to achieve efficiency savings.​
• Havering’s expenditure is 70-80% on social care, exacerbated by the borough’s good schools, family homes, and older demographic compared to most London areas.​
• Green team assembled to critique IT infrastructure spend, innovate, and question council finance, with members from solid professional careers but no prior council experience.​
• Havering Green Party standing candidates in all 55 council seats for elections on May 7, 2026.
• Havering Council approved 4.99% council tax rise for 2026/27, taking Band D bill to £2,424 (up £111 from £2,313), amid £72.7m deficit and prior £88m government bailout.
• Council faces pressures from housing (300 monthly approaches vs 200 in 2021; £8m on hotels) and children’s services (population growth 10.4% 2011-2021; Ofsted notes overburdened social workers).​
• Greens launched “Change for the Better” campaign, focusing on local growth, cleaner Havering, and local power; candidates listed across 20 wards.
• Andrew Rosindell MP called for fairer funding reflecting Havering’s demographics in parliamentary intervention.​
• Reform UK eyes Havering amid £72m overspend projections, with Nigel Farage warning on costs; potential £300m debt by 2029.​

Havering (East London Times) March 25, 2026 – Mark Whiley, Chair of Havering Green Party, has sharply criticised Romford MP Andrew Rosindell over repeated votes for council funding cuts, linking them directly to Havering’s escalating tax rises and funding crisis ahead of May 7 council elections. In an article published today in The Havering Daily, Whiley attributes the borough’s financial woes to central government reductions from £70m annually to £1.5m, forcing residents to cover shortfalls as business rates faltered post-pandemic and under Labour’s National Insurance hike. The Greens, fielding candidates in all 55 seats, propose community wealth building inspired by Preston to boost local economy and efficiencies, amid a 4.99% council tax increase pushing Band D bills to £2,424.

Why Are Havering Council Taxes Rising Year-on-Year?

As reported by Mark Whiley, Chair of Havering Green Party, in The Havering Daily,

“The reason that our taxes go up year-on-year is that our Reform MP, and his colleagues that have largely left for Reform, repeatedly cut local authority funding from central government. This reduced from £70m a year to £1.5m a year. With businesses trading in tough conditions since the pandemic, not helped by Labour’s National Insurance rise, business rates couldn’t make up the shortfall so you did.”.

This statement underscores the Greens’ narrative that national decisions by figures like Andrew Rosindell, Romford’s MP now aligned with Reform, have starved local services. Havering Council’s recent 4.99% tax hike for 2026/27, the maximum without referendum, reflects this pressure, raising Band D payments by £111 to £2,424 from April, following a similar rise last year from £2,207 to £2,313.

The council enters 2026/27 with a £72.7 million deficit, narrowly avoiding bankruptcy via an £88 million Westminster bailout, as detailed in East London Times reporting. Housing and social care demands dominate, with 300 households seeking aid monthly—up from 200 in 2021—and over £8 million spent on hotels despite 150 new family homes. Population growth of 10.4% from 2011-2021, outpacing London’s 7.7%, has intensified children’s services, with Ofsted noting overburdened social workers and rising education, health, and care plans.

What Cuts Did Andrew Rosindell MP Support?

Mark Whiley writes in The Havering Daily that

“Romford’s MP voted six times for cuts to council funding and, as a Conservative, failed for sixteen years to address social care funding reform”.

This accusation positions Rosindell, now with Reform, at the centre of the Greens’ critique, amid his past parliamentary role. However, Rosindell himself intervened in Parliament, as covered in a YouTube report, calling for

“a fairer funding settlement that reflects Havering’s demographics”

to sustain basic services.​

Broader context from East London Times highlights 14 years of central cuts contributing to the crisis, with Greens blaming unreformed social care funding. Rosindell has been noted in Evening Standard coverage for “consistently voting against Fair Funding for Havering,” though specifics remain tied to Whiley’s claims. The MP’s shift to Reform coincides with party interest in Havering’s turmoil, including Nigel Farage’s warnings on costs amid £72 million overspends and potential £300 million debt by 2029.

How Will Greens Tackle Havering’s Funding Crisis?

The Green Party has engaged with local businesses on plans for a Local Business Lead

“responsible for supporting local firms to apply for council contracts, helping to drive local business growth that could create new jobs and increase the take in business rates to the council,”

as outlined by Mark Whiley in The Havering Daily.

“We’re looking at similar models of council and community wealth building that have been successful in the North of England, most famously Preston, and by other councils in London,”

said Mark.

“In addition to council contract work, where we’d look at cutting contracts into smaller pieces and supporting local firms to apply in the tendering process. We’d also be keen to encourage local health and education providers to support local firms through their procurement policies.”.

Preston’s model, per SDG16.plus, revitalised the area via local procurement, cooperatives, and anchor institutions like hospitals and universities, lifting it from deprivation. Greens’ “Change for the Better” campaign, launched as reported by East London Times, commits to monitoring outsourced contracts, using technology for efficiency, and protecting frontline services. Local candidates offer “expertise in process automation, project management, small business ownership and finance,” hoping for savings.

“Between 70-80% of our expenditure is on social care, with Havering particularly affected as a borough with good schools, family homes and an older demographic than most of London,”

said Mark.

“This is why we’ve assembled a team that can provide that sorely needed expertise to critique IT infrastructure spend, innovate, and have the confidence to ask questions of council finance – nearly all of us with solid professional careers, but not having been on the council before.”.​

What Is the Role of Social Care in Havering’s Budget?

Havering’s social care dominates spending at 70-80%, as Mark Whiley notes in The Havering Daily, due to its demographics. East London Times reports surging children’s services demands from population growth—the largest 6% child rise in outer London, fourth nationally—leading to high caseloads, more school transport, and EHC plans. Adult care strains compound this, mirroring national issues.

Whiley’s critique ties this to Rosindell’s sixteen-year inaction on reform. Greens position their professionals to innovate here, amid council’s £72.7m gap.

Why Are Greens Contesting All 55 Seats?

Council elections take place on May 7th across Havering, with the Green Party standing candidates in all 55 seats, as stated by Mark Whiley in The Havering Daily. East London Times lists candidates across 20 wards, including Whiley in Squirrels Heath with Madhu Devershetty and Richard Killip; full slate from Beam Park’s Lois Doo and Tito Mogaji to Upminster’s Noel Richardson et al..

The “Change for the Better” campaign targets growth, green spaces (e.g., free bulky waste collection, tree restoration), and local power, opposing Reform’s commissioner push. Whiley told East London Times:

“People are telling us that they’re ready to make a change from the Conservatives and Labour”.

This positions Greens amid volatility, with all seats up.

What Is Reform UK’s Stance on Havering’s Crisis?

Nigel Farage warns of costs as Reform eyes control, per Yahoo News UK, amid £72m overspend and loans. Whiley labels Rosindell the “Reform MP,” criticising colleagues’ flight to the party. Greens contrast their stability with Reform’s budget refusals.

Projections show £300m debt by 2029. Rosindell seeks fairer funds.​

When Are Havering Elections and What’s at Stake?

Elections on May 7, 2026, contest all 55 seats in this unpredictable vote. Stakes include £77m gap, tax rises, services. Greens offer alternative to Conservatives, Labour, Reform.