𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Two Tory councillors have defected to Reform UK, in the latest boost for Nigel Farage’s party. Reform announced that Havering Borough councillors Robert Benham and Christine Vickery have switched to the party, ahead of a rally in Romford.

They are joined by six Conservative candidates who were selected to stand in local elections on May 7 and have also joined Reform. Party leader Mr Farage said: “I am delighted to welcome Cllr Benham, Cllr Vickery and several Conservative candidates in Havering to Reform UK.

“It’s clear that Reform has all the momentum and the Conservatives have no chance in London. The only way to get rid of Labour and send Sadiq Khan a message is to vote Reform UK on May 7.”

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell, who defected to Reform last month, added: “Today marks a new chapter for our movement in Romford and across Havering. I am delighted to welcome a number of dedicated local councillors and council candidates to Reform UK today.”

Mr Rosindell said: “People feel that the old political parties no longer speak for them. They see a country changing beyond recognition and a political class detached from the everyday concerns of ordinary, patriotic Britons.

“Standing alongside Nigel Farage, we are building a serious movement that will put our country, our community, and the interests of the British people first. The momentum is clearly with Reform, and this is just the beginning.”

It comes as Mr Farage will appear alongside Mr Rosindell at a rally in Romford this evening.

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In the party’s first election pledge ahead of the May 2026 London elections, Reform UK vowed that Reform-led councils will prioritise British citizens and veterans for social housing. Using powers under the Localism Act 2011 Reform councils in London will impose lengthy long-term residency requirements for social housing, meaning only those who have lived in the borough for years will even be allowed to join the waiting list for social housing.

Currently, only a handful of London councils impose significant residency restrictions for social housing, with many boroughs aligning around 3-5 years. Reform-controlled councils would sharply increase the qualifying period in order to prioritise long-established local residents. 15 London borough councils have become accredited ‘Councils of Sanctuary’, including Lambeth, Islington and Southwark. In practice, these embed migrant and asylum support priorities into council strategy and resource planning. Reform UK councils will no longer operate as de facto sanctuary destinations.

Reform UK councils will prioritise British citizens and those who have contributed to this country, the party said. Reform UK’s candidate for Mayor of London Laila Cunningham said: “For far too long, Brits have been pushed to the back of the housing queue and left homeless in their own country in favour of, in some cases, people that have only just arrived.”