Reform UK has denied having any plans to split Bromley Council from the Greater London Authority (GLA), less than a year after a local councillor claimed Nigel Farage was "really enthusiastic" about the proposal. The apparent change of stance suggests the battle to keep Bromley within London may already have been won.
Reform's Position Shift
Last summer, Reform Bromley Councillor Alan Cook stated that Mr Farage was keen on the idea of Bromley leaving the capital, citing the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and what he called Mayor Sadiq Khan's "pet and vanity projects" as reasons. However, speaking in the borough earlier this month, Mr Farage suggested residents might want a referendum on the matter. Now, Reform has officially denied any such plans.
A Reform UK Bromley spokesman said: "Over the last decade of Sadiq Khan and Labour's catastrophic leadership, it's only natural that Bromley residents have become increasingly disillusioned with their place in the GLA. Whilst the Labour Party has serious questions to answer about its failure to deliver for the outer London boroughs, Reform UK has no plans to take Bromley out of London."
'Keep Bromley in London' Campaign
In response to Mr Farage's prediction that many outer London boroughs would seek secession, Labour MP for Beckenham and Penge, Liam Conlon, launched the 'Keep Bromley in London' campaign. He aims to highlight the tangible benefits of being part of the GLA, such as the over-60s Freedom Pass, the disabled person's Freedom Pass, and the Oyster Zip card for children and young people.
Mr Conlon also emphasized the £130 million regeneration of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, a project spearheaded by the Mayor that relies on GLA funding. He said: "That's going to be such an exciting thing in my constituency for generations of people to come. You place that in jeopardy as well [if you split from the GLA]. There are so many things that being in London comes with, and I think it's really important that we articulate that."
Political Divide and ULEZ Debate
Mr Conlon acknowledged that the debate over whether Bromley belongs to London or Kent divides constituents, and he accused Reform of exploiting this division to gain votes in the upcoming local council elections. Bromley is a key target for Reform, with YouGov predicting a tight race between the Conservatives and Reform.
Mr Conlon said: "They're trying to divide people. The number of times they've mentioned Sadiq Khan as part of this campaign. They're trying to say to people, 'do you think he should be your Mayor? Leave London and move to Kent'. It's kind of like 'Make Bromley great again', a sort of nostalgia of seeing the word Kent on an envelope."
Regarding ULEZ, which Mr Farage called a "monstrous tax on the poor," Mr Conlon defended the scheme, citing the tragic case of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a nine-year-old who died from asthma linked to air pollution. He argued that ULEZ benefits far outweigh its downsides, especially for poorer communities affected disproportionately by poor air quality.
Petition Support
Despite encountering some support for the GLA split on doorsteps, Mr Conlon reported that most residents backed his campaign. A petition to keep Bromley in London garnered 2,000 signatures within hours of launching last week, with thousands more since.
To read more about Liam Conlon's 'Keep Bromley in London' campaign, visit the website. Got a story? Email cameron.blackshaw@reachplc.com.
