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An MP is campaigning for a major east London<\/a> borough to leave the capital under a Reform UK<\/a> government.<\/p>\n Independence would mean that Havering, which includes Romford<\/a>, Upminster and Collier Row, would return to the English county to which it is a historic part. <\/p>\n Havering residents would get a choice to remain Londoners or rejoin Essex as a \u201cself-governing unitary authority\u201d if Nigel Farage were Prime Minister, Mr Rosindell said.<\/p>\n He told Reform UK supporters: \u201cTo change Havering<\/a>\u2019s status within Greater London and restoring our independence<\/a> from City Hall will require legislation. <\/p>\n \u201cSo, the next Reform UK Government under Prime Minister Nigel Farage<\/a>\u2026will give Havering a choice, a choice to break free of the Mayor of London and become a self-governing unitary authority once again.\u201d<\/p>\n Havering was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, joining the areas of the former Romford Borough Council and Hornchurch Urban District, which were both once part of Essex.<\/p>\n Mr Rosindell has argued that under the Greater London Authority, Romford does not see enough policemen and police stations have closed, adding that constituents did not want to be a part of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) and have opposed \u201cplanning interference\u201d from the mayor.<\/p>\n What would independence mean in practice?<\/p>\n Mr Rosindell said that Havering\u2019s independence would put local residents in charge of decision-making. He said: \u201cHavering will get back control over the development of our town centre.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will rid ourselves of Ulez, which has been dividing up families and communities. <\/p>\n \u201cMost importantly, it will ensure that policies decided for the people of this borough are made by the people of Havering. No more dictatorship from the Mayor of London or City Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n But Havering Residents Association says that the situation is more murky.<\/p>\n A spokesperson told The Standard: \u201c[Mr Rosindell] fails to explain to residents the devolution deal and local government reorganisation taking place in Essex, the fact Thurrock Council has an excessive budget deficit, that there are multiple housing developments taking place in Essex, that we would lose access to the MET Police, London Ambulance Service<\/a>, outer London Weighting, London Travel Pass, access to top London health provision, GLA grant funding and access to successful collaborative working with London Councils. <\/p>\n \u201cAll this on top of still being controlled by a Mayor and still having to contribute centrally through a precept.\u201d<\/p>\n The residents association does not think that independence would address Havering\u2019s most pressing needs. <\/p>\n \u201cMP Andrew Rosindell has consistently voted against Fair Funding for Havering in Parliament, and failed to maximise on the opportunities London has to offer. <\/p>\n \u201cHis focus should be on the best interests of Havering, and the big issues around housing, cost of living and the well-being of Havering Residents. Moving to Essex<\/a> would not change those needs.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement issued to The Standard, Mr Rosindell responded: \u201cThe comments below are sadly wholly inaccurate and are frankly scaremongering from the Havering Residents Association.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of the things being said are true. Simply by listening to my speech, you will soon pick up that we were a unitary authority before 2000 and none of the services mentioned were lost to the people of Havering.\u201d <\/p>\n Could independence actually happen?<\/p>\n According to Tony Travers, a professor in practice and associate dean of the LSE School of Public Policy, a London borough becoming independent could happen in theory. <\/p>\n \u201cThe government’s in the middle of a major reorganisation of local government outside London,\u201d he told The Standard. <\/p>\n \u201cIt’s only a matter of time before civil servants say: \u2018Oh, the London boroughs are too small.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n However, Travers emphasised that it\u2019s not clear what independence would look like in practice. \u201cThere’d be quite a lot of consequential knock-on issues,\u201d he said. \u201cIt sounds easy, but it wouldn’t be.\u201d<\/p>\n