Havering residents still divided ten years after Brexit vote

In the 2016 EU referendum, the London borough of Havering recorded one of the strongest Leave votes, with 96,885 voters (about 70%) choosing to exit the EU and 42,201 voting Remain. A decade later the community remains split.

Some residents argue that Brexit has delivered greater control over UK laws, immigration policy and the ability to negotiate independent trade deals. Others contend that promised benefits have not materialised: trade difficulties, rising living costs, loss of local jobs such as the closure of the Dagenham Ford plant, and reduced business confidence. The debate now centres less on the Leave‑Remain divide and more on whether the outcomes promised during the campaign have been achieved, with many calling for greater honesty from politicians.

Overall, Havering exemplifies the ongoing national discussion about Brexit’s impact, as voters continue to assess whether the referendum’s promises have been fulfilled.