Steve Reed OBE, the former deputy chair of Progress and, since 2012, the MP for Croydon North/Lambeth South [delete to taste] is to be the new editor of Inside Croydon, it has been announced today.
Progress: Steve Reed OBE
The former leader of Lambeth Council will succeed Steven Downes, who is to stand down after a transition period.
Shirley Hills resident Reed is understood to have been inspired to take on an additional zero hours job, on top of his Westminster role, by the multi-tasking Gideon Osborne, the former Tory Chancellor who, after ballsing up the economy, is now going to fuck-up London’s evening newspaper.
Reed may have said: “This is such an exciting and challenging job and I’m thrilled to take it on. Inside Croydon has developed such a reputation, testimony to the hard work of Steven Downes and the impressive team, including specialist correspondents such as Walter Cronxite, Bella Bartock, Jeremy Clackson and Barratt Holmes. I look forward to working with, learning from and leading this team of dedicated amateurs.
“Growing up outside Croydon, I’ve always known that the Inside Croydon is an institution that plays a huge part in the life of the town and its people. Now it is a great honour that I can play a part as leader of the editorial team making Inside Croydon the definitive voice of the capital’s most exciting borough.”
Unlike Osborne, Reed has a relative wealth of previous journalistic experience, having operated the photo-copying machine at a home counties’ magazine publishers during his summer vacation once.
“I am confident I can take on this job with all the success that I have had as MP for Lambeth… err, Croydon. I will continue at all times to remain available to my constituents to attend Progress functions, weddings, bar mitzvahs or constituency party quiz nights,” the MP may have been heard to remark.
Reed’s appointment to run the website comes after an unnamed benefactor carrying a large bag full of developers’ cash, who may have looked like new council spin doctor Julian “Jules” Ellerby, visited Inside Croydon Towers late at night and suggested that the founding editor, Downes, might want to take a sabbatical for an indefinite period.
In a press release dated April 1, it was explained that the transfer to the new editor is to commence when the £1.4billion Westfield redevelopment is completed, or when Paul Scott admits his various conflicts of interest as chair of the council’s planning committee and resigns, or when Alison Butler becomes MP for Croydon Central, whichever is the sooner.
- Inside Croydon is Croydon’s only independent news source, still based in the heart of the borough. In 2016, we averaged 17,000 page views every week
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or a local event to publicise, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
Well I am just going to have to council my subscription then.
: )
And in what is seen by many as a job swap Steven Downes takes over at Lambeth council
At the very same time Donald Trump becomes genuinely kind and solicitous and also praises the incredible achievements of his predecessor, Theresa May suddenly becomes the humble daughter of a vicar, gets a voice coach and becomes less shrill and aggressive, Boris Johnson loses 40 kg, his job and his toupee but acquires the rudiments of conscience, Nigel Farage joins the Church and is excommunicated before he can organise a campaign for eliminating said Church, Michael Gove joins Hare Krishna and is to be seen, seated on the ground outside Parliament, constantly repeating the mantra : ” I was never God, I was wrong at Education and only a little bit right in Law, I was stupid, insensitive, irresponsible and arrogant about Brexit, Mea Culpa ” (mixing the Churches a bit). As a penance for his earlier peccadillos he is not allowed a glorious yellow robe but has to retain his running gear this adding much to the amusement of the crowd. Steven Downes, now jobless, is the most enthusiastic spectator.
… and then I remembered what day it was! >
No opposition will be tolerated!
Actually i thought it very thought provoking, but i did laugh too. I think the clue was in that the page was removed at 1204 (approx) on the day of publication. One day pigs will fly and those responsible for the mess we are in will acknowledge this and apologise.
I am not holding my breath.
Nope. No page has been “removed”, Peter. It’s still here – just superseded by other, more serious matters