‘We are moving out of principle because that is where we belong and more importantly where we want to be’-Rainham councillors.

At yesterday’s (Wednesday 7 September) full council meeting at the Town Hall in Romford, the three Rainham Councillors Sue Ospreay, Jackie McArdle and Sarah Edwards changed seats to join the Havering Residents Association after standing as Conservative Councillors. To set the record straight-this decision was not done to gain financial power, cabinet positions, spy on the HRA or any other ulterior motive but purely for the fact that after facing some of the most difficult situations possible as new councillors, the three ladies felt completely let down and unsupported by their Conservative party colleagues. Instead, it was Havering Residents Association councillors such as Natasha Summers, that were there when the going got extremely tough.

“We had literally just been elected when we were faced with the horrific Wennington fire. We hit the ground running. Not only did we have national media here but the most important point was that friends came to us desperate for help. They weren’t strangers reaching out to us, but our very own friends that had lost everything and were left with nothing but the clothes on their back,” said Councillor Sue Ospreay.

“It was the worst disaster Havering has ever seen and we were left to deal with it from the very start with no support whatsoever from the Conservatives. We jumped in head first as all three of us do and did everything we could to help people here during a horrendous time. We really needed support and guidance and sadly none came.

“It came from Havering Residents Association councillors who supported us as much as possible and stood alongside us regardless of the different parties,” continued Sue.

The Havering Daily has worked with these ladies for several years now and the key to their success is very simple-they are indeed community champions. They put the community at the heart of everything they do, they are not there to gain any political favours, but purely to support their community.

“We are very much community champions with a hands-on approach very much like the HRA,” says Councillor McArdle. “We are not moving for paid positions or any type of bribe, we are moving out of principle and because that is where we belong and more importantly where we want to be,” adds Jackie.

The three Rainham councillors were probably the most positive part of the election night for the Conservatives. The ladies knocked the previous long-term independent residents association councillors from their perch and were clearly the people’s choice. Their non-stop work ethic and being the great community champions they are, saw locals vote Conservative during a time when the party’s popularity was in decline.

The move does not come as a shock -but as something that had been predicted by those that can see how well they work in their community, a style reflected by other HRA councillors across the borough. The three ladies have no interest in gaining political favours, or financial benefits and have asked for nothing. Their interests were to have a party behind them that work the way they do in the community and support each other as they have been.

Numerous HRA councillors such as Natasha Summers, Stephanie Nunn and Barry Mugglestone have been there to support the three Rainham councillors and stressed that they are a party for the community and equally hands-on.

The move will now provide the three ladies with the right support they need as the amazing community champions they are.