It’s not been a good day for Gavin Barwell, the MP for the Whitgift Foundation.

The MP for the Whitgift Foundation

First, he discovers that Ladbrokes have him as only second favourite to win the Croydon Central seat at next year’s General Election.

And now it is plain that Barfwell is far less appealing even than “Gorgeous” George Galloway.

Both MPs gave talks at Sutton’s Wallington County Grammar School in the last month.

But the video posted of Barfwell’s talk has attracted barely 5 per cent of the number of views on YouTube that the maverick Galloway has pulled in. Can Barfwell really be so much less popular, or interesting, than a man who was kicked out of the Labour Party by Tony Bliar?

To help redress the balance, therefore, here’s your chance to view the video of Sanderstead resident Barwell’s session at the Sutton grammar school (dutifully accompanied by his state-paid parliamentary bag-carrier, and council elections candidate, Mario Creatura), and make up your own mind…

By the way, don’t make too much of Ladbrokes’s Croydon Central odds… it’s a fairly feeble attempt at drumming up publicity for the bookmakers’ political betting operation, and as the saying goes, “the house always wins”. They have Labour (who will be represented by Sarah Jones) at 10/11 favourites and Barfwell at Evens. So Ladbrokes really can’t say who’s going to win, either.

Recent Inside Croydon election coverage:

• Galloway gives pupils a lesson in how politics works
• Telegraph poll suggest UKIP poised to win Town Hall seats
• Tea-time leaflet leaves Easter egg over faces of Waddon Tories
• A Viscount, two Lords and a comedian back Labour’s campaign
• Tories pick ‘Osland of the Yard’ to stand in Thornton Heath
• Newman struggles to get Labour singing from the same songsheet
• What Barwell fails to tell you and the myths of Council Tax
• Council allowances and local politicians’ secret consensus
• Tory ward chairman quits to stand for UKIP in Ashburton
• Snap! Croydon Tories use same leaflet graphics as council

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  Coming to Croydon

  • Private Peaceful, Charles Cryer Theatre, Apr 23-26
  • Alison, A Rock Opera, Spread Eagle Theatre, Apr 23-26
  • Groundwork River Wandle project workshop, Apr 23
  • David Lean Cinema: Short Term 12, Apr 24
  • Groundwork River Wandle project workshop, Apr 24
  • Stop The Incinerator Beer and Bingo fund-raiser, Apr 28
  • Future of Crystal Palace debate, Apr 30
  • Groundwork River Wandle project workshop, Apr 30
  • David Lean Cinema: The Railway Man, May 1
  • Groundwork River Wandle project workshop, May 1
  • Hauntology – the architecture of Croydon, Apr 5-May 2
  • David Lean Cinema: Wadja, May 8
  • Coulsdon Euro election hustings, May 8
  • David Lean Cinema: Blue Velvet, May 10
  • Norwood Society Talk: West Norwood – a place of change, May 15
  • David Lean Cinema: The Invisible Woman, May 15
  • Coulsdon West local election hustings, May 16
  • Croydon RFC charity memorial day, May 17
  • Coulsdon East local election hustings, May 20 (tbc)
  • David Lean Cinema: The Rocket, May 22
  • David Lean Cinema: Dallas Buyers Club, May 29
  • Norwood Society Talk: The Concrete Church, June 19
  • Crystal Palace Overground Festival, June 26-29
  • Norwood Society Talk: War Memorials, Sep 18
  • Norwood Society Talk: From Fire Station to Theatre, Oct 16
  • Norwood Society Talk: Lambeth’s Archives, Nov 20

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