Member

With new clause 86, I propose to give a right to the people of Havering. We believe in democracy and devolution, so will the Minister please give the residents of my borough of Havering the right to decide in a referendum whether they would like to withdraw from the Greater London Authority, and instead have the option of joining the new Greater Essex combined county authority? I do not deny that this needs negotiation and would mean reconfiguration, but it is a serious prospect. We cannot be part of Essex for hundreds and hundreds of years, and suddenly be taken out of it without repercussions, particularly given that, as I have explained, it appears that my borough is in effect subsidising inner London. We have had enough, and we want the choice.