The Liberal Democrats’ hopes of doubling their number of councillors in Croydon rest on the shoulders of Jahir Hussain, who has been named as their party’s candidate for the Woodside by-election being held on May 2.

Woodside candidate: Jahir Hussain is standing for the LibDems

Hussain is the chief executive of a digital transformation consultancy working with academic, healthcare, and educational institutions.

Hussain is a founder and the chair of charity Alhidaya Croydon, and has served on the board of a housing association for two terms. He has lived in Croydon for more than two decades, and has “spent the best part of 25 years helping companies all over the world to improve their use of technology”, according to the LibDems.

“We need a fresh start here,” Hussain said. “Labour have represented this area for over 30 years and take residents for granted, while the Tory Mayor of Croydon has put up Council Tax by a massive 21% since 2023.

“This election is a chance for residents to demand change and elect a councillor who stands up for Woodside.”

LibDem party officials refer to needing a “clean break… from the Labour and Tory failure in our borough”. Woodside is the ward that, until 2021-2022, had as its Labour councillors Paul Scott, one of the driving forces behind Brick by Brick, and his mate Tony Newman, the discredited council leader who bankrupted the borough.

Battleground: Woodside ward under the 2018 borough boundaries

Peter Ladanyi, the chair of Croydon LibDems, said today, “Croydon is now a by-word for financial incompetence, with over £1billion of debt and Council Tax bills going through the roof.

“The old parties* have had their chance, our borough needs fresh councillors with a new perspective to get Croydon out of the mess that Labour and the Tories created.”

(*Historical note: The Liberal Party was founded in 1859…).

The Liberal Democrats have just one councillor elected to Croydon Town Hall.

In 2022, Claire Bonham became the first LibDem to win an election in Croydon for 20 years, and now represents Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood ward.

Woodside is one of two ward by-elections being held next month in Croydon – the other is Park Hill and Whitgift – where voters will not just have the three London election ballot papers to fill in, but also one to elect a local councillor.

The Woodside by-election is being held after Labour councillor Mike Bonello resigned earlier this year.

Read more: A bit Rich: members bypassed as Labour imposes candidate
Read more: Putting Croydon First: the reasons I am now a Liberal Democrat
Read more: Tories picked Price for Park Hill before Appleton had resigned

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