Havering Has Been Short Changed For Decades Under Both Labour And Conservative Governments. I Will Continue To Fight For Havering To Receive The Funding And Autonomy It Rightfully Deserves.

The Member of Parliament for Romford-Andrew Rosindell today writes in the Havering Daily on the budget shortfall for our borough and the impacts it will have.

For many decades, Havering has been unfairly treated when it comes to local government funding. I have been relentless in my pursuit of a fairer funding formula to ensure that our borough gets the support it needs. I lobbied the Tony Blair Labour government on this when I was first elected M.P. for Romford and every government since.

Following the local elections in 2022, Havering Council has been controlled by Havering Residents’ Association backed up for the best part by Labour and while my party is not currently responsible for decision-making at the local level, I remain committed to fighting for the best possible deal for our community.

Havering has been shortchanged for decades under both Labour and Conservative governments. This funding disparity has only worsened since the pandemic, which placed enormous financial pressure on local councils. ‘Outer London’ boroughs like ours are hit the hardest, facing the largest gaps between funding and spending.

With one of the highest proportions of elderly and youth populations in London, our council faces significant financial burdens, yet funding adjustments fail to account for this reality. I have always championed the need for additional funding, and I will continue to push for every penny that Havering deserves.

Another major drain on Havering’s finances is the ever-growing precept paid to the Mayor of London. Outer London boroughs like ours contribute significantly to City Hall’s budget but receive little in return.

Schemes such as ULEZ add further financial strain while our local powers—such as those over planning—are being centralised in City Hall. This is simply outrageous! Why should we be expected to funnel money into central London when we do not receive the basic services it is meant to supply. 

A large proportion of Havering’s budget is allocated to social care and not essential local amenities. I believe that social care should be funded by the national government, allowing local councils to focus on services that directly improve residents’ quality of life. This is especially crucial for a borough like ours, where the demand for social care is disproportionately high.

Havering has recently received over £54 million in government support, but this is merely a short-term fix. While it may help balance the books temporarily, difficult decisions are still being made that negatively impact the people of Romford and Havering. What we need is fundamental reform of the local government funding formula, not just short-term bailouts from the new Labour government.

I will continue to fight for Havering to receive the funding and autonomy it rightfully deserves. Our borough deserves better, and I will not stop until we get a fair deal.

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