Romford MP demands independence from Sadiq Khan's Ulez London
A major part of east London should be allowed to declare independence from Sadiq Khan and re-join Essex, an MP has said.
Andrew Rosindell is campaigning for the area around Romford, which was forced into Greater London in 1965, to leave the capital and reassociate itself with the county of which it is a historic part.
He said the borough of Havering, which also includes Hornchurch and Upminster, should be given the power to leave London as part of Angela Rayner's reorganisation of local government.
The Deputy Prime Minister has said she wants to see the abolition of county and district councils and their replacement with unitary authorities covering populations of about 500,000 each.
Mr Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford, obtained a Commons debate about his desire for Havering independence earlier this month.
He said that under the Greater London Authority, headed up by Mr Khan, the mayor, his area does not see enough policemen and pays too much for free bus passes for pensioners.
And he said its residents did not want to be part of the ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) and opposed 'planning interference' from the London mayor.
'I believe that today we have a once-in-almost-a-century chance to look afresh at the old boundaries of Greater London that were constructed six decades ago,' he said.
'The entire region around our great United Kingdom capital of London has changed dramatically since those days.'
He added: 'It could just be, much to the surprise of many of my constituents, that the new Labour Government's plan for devolution and local government reorganisation provides the opportunity we need to finally take control of our own affairs and have our future restored to becoming part of Essex local government structures once again.'
'We are historically Essex'
He said Romford had been part of Essex since the kingdom was founded in the sixth century, and that its people felt part of Essex.
'Romford is geographically Essex,' he said. 'We are historically Essex. We are culturally Essex and our social, sporting and commercial connections have always looked towards the county of Essex.
'My constituents and I are proud of our Essex identity, which transcends local government or administrative boundaries that are forever changing – as they are again today.'
The MP added: 'Ever since then, our Essex identity has tragically been diminished and even discarded by some, as if centuries of history in belonging to such a great English county could end simply because of local government reorganisation, which was lazy in its construction and took no account of our history.
'This has led to 60 years of muddle, confusion and constant debate about Romford and Havering remain part of Essex or not.'
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