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Comedy satire brings Croydon Labour vote fraud to the stage

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You’ve seen Inside Croydon: The Movie (and if you haven’t, why not?).

Now comes a comedy satire on stage, which the playwrights say they have based on Inside Croydon’s reporting, which was “incredibly insightful” and “a source of comedic and informative inspiration”. Ooo-err.

Paratroopers, written by Daniel Patten and Sol Alberman, is playing at the Lion and Unicorn pub theatre in Kentish Town later this month, ahead of a run at the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

Patten says that he and Alberman have been working on the play for more than a year, “researching all things Labour selections since January 2024”.

Paratroopers is set in Cackby, a fictional post-industrial town in northern England. An MP has died and party members – the theatre audience – gather at North Cackby Community Arts Centre to choose a successor.

But how much of a choice do they really have?

Mackenzie Steele and Connor Banks, two low-level operators in the Labour Party, happen to be the only “high-quality” candidates. And whether you like ’em or not, they’re the only choice you’re getting.

“This absurdist comedy satire is modelled on real people and events drawn from existing Labour Party scandals – including allegations of voter fraud,” the publicity for the show says. Whatever could they mean?

The Labour selection process for the Croydon East safe seat, as extensively covered by Inside Croydon from the autumn of 2023, remains a matter under investigation by the Metropolitan Police, the Met has confirmed. This followed allegations of voter fraud, including questions raised over the use of the Anonyvoter remote voting system, and alterations to confidential address and email details for local party members.

“We found in particular your coverage at Inside Croydon incredibly insightful and a source of comedic and informative inspiration,” Patten told iC.

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