With Reform governing Havering for 100 days, Dominic Swan, Chairman of Romford Conservatives looks at what they promised and what they have actually done.
Running a council is not easy. But the speed with which Reform have forgotten their promises to voters is shocking.
- Reform said that we would save millions by leaving London. But right after the election, their own Council leader admitted that “Hexit [leaving London] would make Residents significantly worse off”. They hope we forget being misled.
- Reform said they would cut 18 Councillor roles to cut costs. It hasn’t happened. They actually created an extra taxpayer funded Cabinet job for a Reform politician. And their Council Leader now has two full time taxpayer funded jobs.
- Reform promised to reopen Libraries day one. They are still closed. Worse, Reform has not even published a timetable to open them.
- Reform promised us safer streets. Nothing has been done. Instead, they appointed a Mayor’s Consort, who left the police amid cocaine and alcohol claims.
- We all pay for this. Reform also promised to cut our bills. Instead, our band D Council tax increased by £111 again this year. Less than a quarter of our Council tax goes to London to pay for our Police, Fire Services and Freedom passes.
I am pleased that the Union Jack is flying over the Town Hall again. Sadly, Reform flew it the wrong way up.
Soon Reform will try and blame their failure on Sadiq Khan or the Labour government – even though they were in power before Reform made their pledges.
Havering needs a Council that focuses on solving our problems, not slogans and false promises.
