Four years ago, life was very different in Barking & Dagenham LBC. It was perhaps at the forefront of the political disillusionment that has swept across the country when it saw a massive swing in the local election towards the British National Party (BNP).
A disillusioned working class population, with concerns over immigration and a housing crisis led to a protest vote in the borough – one which current leader, Darren Rodwell has attempted to turn around.
‘It has only been four years since the BNP,’ he says. ‘That was the cry for help from the residents.’
In his 11 months in post, he has attempted to turn around ‘the oil tanker that is public services’.
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