East London War/Romford and Hornchurch Borough Council
Romford and Hornchurch Borough Council | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | Unitary authority council |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1965 (as Havering London Borough Council), 8 May 2036 (as Romford and Hornchurch Borough Council) |
| Leadership | |
Mayor of Romford and Hornchurch | Andrew Smith, Essex Party since 10 May 2041 |
Leader of the Council | Chris Connor, Essex Party since 12 May 2034 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 62 councillors |
 | |
Political groups | Administration (48)
Opposition (14)
|
Length of term | Whole council elected every four years |
| Elections | |
| Plurality-at-large | |
Last election | 6 May 2038 |
Next election | 8 May 2042 |
| Motto | |
| Liberty | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Town Hall, Romford | |
Elections[edit | edit source]
2038 election[edit | edit source]
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All 62 seats to Romford and Hornchurch Borough Council 32 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2038 Romford and Hornchurch Borough Council election took place on 6 May 2038 to elect members of the Romford and Hornchurch Borough Council. This was on the same day as other local elections in England. Taking place during the East London War, the election, which delivered a landslide majority for the incumbent Essex Party, was disputed by the Greater London Authority and opposition parties as being rigged and illegitimate. The Essex Party increased their share of seats to 48, the Independents Group of Councillors won the remaining 14, and Chris Connor remained Leader of the Council with an increased majority.
In the previous election in 2034, Chris Connor became Leader as the Conservatives took control of the Havering London Borough Council. Connor increased ties with the neighbouring Essex authorities, embracing Havering's historic and cultural links to the county and distancing the borough from London. In May 2036, halfway through the Council's term, it passed a resolution unilaterally declaring itself a unitary authority, separate from London, under the name "Borough of Romford and Hornchurch". Around this time, the local Conservatives reorganised themselves into the Essex Party, remaining under the leadership of Chris Connor. Although welcomed by the regional Essex County, Thurrock Borough and Southend-on-Sea City Councils, the resolution was dismissed by City Hall as unlawful and they demanded its retraction. A struggle over local institutions and authority culminated in the 2037 beginning of the East London War.
Connor confirmed elections would still take place during the conflict. However, the borough leadership took steps to attack anti-Essexist groups and individuals. Certain organisations, including the local Labour Party, were forced to disband and many opposition candidates were barred from running. Some opposition councillors formed the Independents Group of Councillors which became the main non-Essex Party political force. Their officially neutral stances on independence and the war allowed them to evade attack from the borough authorities.
