MP Chris Philp: open to debate
And you thought you might get away without having to go to the polling station at all in 2019.
It is looking increasingly possible that, borough-wide, there will be at least one election day coming up, with a General Election, and thanks to the over-running Brexit process, perhaps even European elections (remember them?).
A return to the polling booths is threatened by Theresa May if the Prime Minister can’t get her wretched Brexit deal through at the fourth time of asking.
The continuing support for May’s government from the Northern Ireland unionists of the DUP looks very flaky. No Deal or indeed May’s Deal, passed unaltered, will see the DUP remove its support for the government. May is already a lame duck Prime Minister, following her “ultimate sacrifice” this week. Stripped of her parliamentary majority she had bought from the DUP thanks to £1billion of public cash, she would be forced to go back to the country.
So the Coulsdon and Purley Debating Society has got its timing spot on for its political debate for next Thursday, April 4.
The annual free event is open to all.
Croydon South MP Chris Philp is vice-chairman for policy for the Conservative Party these days, so his views on what a Tory manifesto may say will intrigue, especially after 2017’s manifesto debacle over the “Dementia Tax”.
Philp is proposing the motion, “Our post-Brexit country needs a firm Conservative hand, not an open Socialist hand, to guide it through the future.” Without even the merest hint of self-awareness or embarrassment.
Andrew Pelling: speaking against Tory motion
Up against Philp will be the Labour councillor for Waddon, Andrew Pelling, who is also a former councillor and London Assembly member for Old Coulsdon, where the debate is being held. Pelling seems to be the debating society’s go-to Labour speaker these past few years.
The debate starts at 8pm at the Old Coulsdon Centre, Grange Park, Coulsdon Road, Old Coulsdon CR5 1EH, opposite the Tudor Parade.
Buses from Croydon are the 466 and 60.
After the tea interval, the debate is open to all to take part in.
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and BBC London News
- Inside Croydon named Journalist of the Year at 2018 Anna Kennedy Online Autism Heroes Awards
- ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: For two consecutive years, 2017 and 2018, Inside Croydon has been the source for two award-winning nominations in Private Eye magazine’s annual celebration of civic cock-ups
- In 2018, Inside Croydon had 1.6million pages viewed by more than half a million unique visitors
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or what to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
Looks like we’re getting ready for an election.
We may well be. But this event was booked in some time ago.