KEMI BADENOCH VOWS TO WIN BACK HAVERING VOTERS AS HORNCHURCH SALON VISIT EXPOSES HIGH STREET BUSINESS STRUGGLES.

14th October 202614th October 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments Beauty Salon, Conservative Party, High Street, Hornchurch, kemi Badenoch min read

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has heard first-hand how difficult life has become for high street businesses after visiting The Vanilla Room in Hornchurch, where owner Kerry revealed the personal sacrifices she and her husband have made to keep the salon running and pay their staff.

The visit took place yesterday at the much-loved salon on Hornchurch High Street, which has faced mounting financial pressures as it tries to keep its doors open in an increasingly challenging business environment.

Organised by Hornchurch and Upminster MP Julia Lopez, the visit gave Kerry and her team the opportunity to explain directly to the Conservative leader and senior members of her Shadow Cabinet the realities of running a high street salon.

Joining Mrs Badenoch were Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Mims Davies, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Joy Morrissey, and Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Helen Whately.

The salon staff spoke openly about the pressures facing the beauty industry, describing the difficult decisions they have had to make simply to keep the business operating and protect jobs.

Kerry explained how she regularly goes without taking payment herself so she can pay her employees. She and her husband have also dipped into their pension funds in an effort to keep the business afloat.

Their experience highlights the personal cost that running a small business can have on its owners, who often put their own financial security at risk to protect their staff and maintain a service for their local community.

During the visit, the Conservative politicians heard concerns about the difficulties salons face, including rising costs and the pressure to remain financially viable. Staff also spoke about closures across the sector and the impact on jobs.

For Kerry, the struggle is not simply about keeping a business open. It is about protecting the livelihoods of her employees and preserving a familiar local business on Hornchurch High Street.

Julia Lopez has worked closely with businesses across Hornchurch and has sought to highlight the challenges facing traders, especially the beauty industry. She arranged the visit in the hope that giving the salon a platform to explain its experiences would help draw attention to the pressures facing local businesses.

High streets remain an important part of local communities, providing employment, services and a place for people to meet. But business owners say that keeping premises open has become increasingly difficult, with smaller independent operators particularly exposed to financial pressures.

The visit also provided an opportunity for Mrs Badenoch to hear directly from a local business about the challenges facing the sector, rather than relying solely on national figures and policy discussions.

Speaking to The Havering Daily, Mrs Badenoch said she was focused on winning back former Conservative voters in Havering who switched to Reform UK in the local elections.

Her visit to Hornchurch therefore brought together two important issues for the Conservatives: rebuilding support among voters who have turned to Reform, and listening to the concerns of local businesses that feel they are struggling to survive.

For Kerry and her team, however, the immediate concern remains keeping The Vanilla Room going and protecting the jobs they have worked so hard to sustain.

Their message to the visiting politicians was clear: behind every high street business are people making real sacrifices to keep it alive, and they want those struggles to be heard.