Clive Furness Announced as Reform Mayoral Candidate for Mayor of Newham.

In a move that is likely to rustle local political feathers, the founder of Open Newham, former councillor Clive Furness and former mayor, Sir Robin Wales made a major announcement today (04/03/26).

Both Labour veterans with close to a century in the Labour Party between them have left Labour to join Reform. Wales will join the team of London mayoral candidate, Laila Cunningham as Director of Local Government Development and Furness will stand as the Reform candidate for Mayor of Newham.

Alongside Cunningham and Nigel Farage, the pair explained their reasons for leaving Labour and joining Reform.

Speaking exclusively to Open Newham Furness stated that the Newham race was now “A four-way contest between Labour, Newham Independents, the Greens and Reform. At the moment it is too close to call”.

Asked whether he expected to win he replied “We are starting from a zero-base in Newham, we have to grow and grow fast. We do know that there is a groundswell for Reform and we have to build on that.”

When quizzed on why he had left Labour and joined a right-wing party, he referred us to the meme below.

Former Newham Mayor - Sir Robin Wales and Reform Mayoral Candidate for Newham - Clive Furness

“Essentially, we haven’t moved. We are still committed to improving the lives of working people, we still believe in the equal value of all people regardless of the colour of their skin or the name of the God they worship. 

“What has changed is the attitude of the left. The Greens are more concerned with pronouns than Plaistow. Newham Independents are building support on myths of Gaza. Labour have attempted to improve by selecting a sensible candidate, but he is lumbered with eight years of Fiaz legacy. 

“For people who want a mayor who will work for all of the people of Newham, Reform is the answer.”

We include the statement from Clive Furness below.

Hello. I am Clive Furness and today I am announcing that I will be standing as the Reform candidate for Mayor of Newham

I joined the Labour Party when I was 21. I went on to serve 21 years as a Labour councillor in Newham where I have had my home since 1978. It would be an exaggeration to say that I enjoyed it all of that time, but I felt that it was worthwhile and that we achieved something. But it also took an emotional cost that I was hesitant to repeat.

When I left eight years ago, I felt no desire to return to the political arena.

But in that eight years, the Labour Party has become unrecognisable from the party I joined as a young man.

I joined a party which represented working people and which was inspired by the principles of the enlightenment. Chief among these were freedom of thought and freedom of expression. These principles are under assault in the Labour Party of today.

The CPS under Labour seems intent to introducing the crime of blasphemy by the back door. A man cleared by the appeal court of giving "offence" has been hounded by the CPS. His words and actions offended someone. Meanwhile he man who attacked him with a knife, an offence that could get up to four years inside was given a suspended sentence.

A teacher from Batley remains in hiding because the government cannot or will not protect him from religious bigots who threaten violence. There’s a real sense in which government has surrendered to mob rule.

Across the country and in Newham I see people dividing on the basis of ethnicity and religion. It is no exaggeration to speak of the Balkanisation of Britain.

Labour's response has been to appease the most reactionary parts of our society.

Labour also continues to have problems with antisemitism. In the past two terms four members of Newham Council who published antisemitic comments have been either  suspended or deselected.

The most egregious was one who was foolish enough to publish her admiration of Hitler and his innovative solution to the Jewish problem on Facebook. She served four years as a Labour councillor before being found out.

In two of the last three elections, Labour has been more popular amongst those earning more than £70,000 than amongst those in classes C1-E. 

Labour has abandoned its core principles and abandoned the working class. We might reasonably ask what is it there for?

There are two candidates who have already declared for the May election in Newham.  Both have published their outline programmes, not only do they look similar to one another, they both look similar to the  programme delivered by Robin Wales eight years ago.

After eight years of Labour mismanagement, I suspect that it will take a little more time than  they suppose to put their pledges into action.  I am making no policy promises at this point, but If I am elected I will put into practice the principles we worked on until 2018. My priority will be to get council spending under control.

Council tax is probably the most regressive tax we have. Those it hits hardest are those working on modest wages, it takes the greatest proportion from their incomes. The time must come to an end where council tax is used as an ATM for politicians to fund pet projects.

Politics at all levels is now too much about virtue signalling. In what other period of our history would a national political leader struggle to define what a woman is?

I entered politics to make changes. So, my candidacy is not about protest. It is about delivery. 

And this is my central message to the people of Newham, it is not about serving one group over another. It is about delivering for all of the residents of the borough.

Reform is not perfect, but they speak to the issues affecting the British people. In Laila we have a candidate who brings ideas and energy, a candidate who actually likes people and is liked by them, a candidate who can revive London for all Londoners. I look forward to working alongside her.

Labour and the Conservatives have failed London. It’s time for change. Laila can make that change, Sadiq Khant.