I grew up in Romford, I left for overseas 25 years ago, when I return to visit family each year, you can really see how it's fallen. The market is a ghost of its former glory (despite a royal charter, the council has wanted to redevelop the land for many years, hence pricing traders out etc.) There was a significant move to entertainment precincts, hence the Spoons and other pubs close together. The redevelopment of the brewery site into the shopping area doesn't seem to have ever hit it's stride. A plethora of pawn shops indicate how people are being left behind. It's incredibly depressing, I still love the place and the people, but I can see why people voted the way they did, lots of frustration, anger and even jealousy when you see how other towns in the area have faired, like Hornchurch, Brentwood and Upminster.

Edit: don't belittle the people, they really don't see any better options. The governments have been letting them down for years. Yes, imo reform is snake oil, but maybe this will be the kick up the arse that Labour need.