West Thornton councillor Stuart King, the current leader of the Labour group at the Town Hall, has got himself a new job.
New job: Stuart King, Croydon Labour leader
And unlike some of the councillors in his group, King has had no problem making sure that his public declarations of interest are bang up to date…
King has become a director of a newly registered firm of lobbyists for the property industry, Quoin Partners, alongside Peter John, Labour’s former leader of Southwark Council, and Kevin Davis, once the Tory leader in Kingston.
John, Davis and King have all left roles with Terrapin, the public relations firm run by the notorious Peter Bingle, and which played a part in the lobbying of Croydon Council over Crystal Palace’s new main stand at Selhurst Park.
According to a statement, Quoin will “advise developers, investors and operators on navigating the complex political and planning landscape across local authorities, combined authorities and central government”. So much like Terrapin, then.
The whole lobbying sector has the look of monied interests finding ways to get around public bodies, local authorities and planning restrictions. Quoin is not shy about offering their directors’ experience and contacts.
“With decades of experience from the front line of local government, Quoin Partners understands how decisions are made, how partnerships are built and how projects get delivered,” John is quoted as saying in PR Week, without even the merest hint that he thinks it might sound like he’s offering back-room deals.
“We are helping business to navigate the UK political landscape and unlock opportunities for housing, development and growth.”
Shell company: Peter John has taken his influence and contacts to a new lobbying firm
The exit of King and his colleagues is a triple whammy for the management of Bingle’s Terrapin company.
John was Terrapin’s chair.
Terrapin has worked for many property developers and real estate investors, including Lendlease and Delancey, two of the biggest, who both landed hugely profitable schemes in Southwark, across the Aylesbury and Heygate estates and the Elephant and Castle. All were agreed while Peter John was the council leader.
King has been a Croydon councillor since 2014. He became Labour’s deputy leader at the Town Hall in October 2020 and has been group leader since May 2022.
He joined Terrapin as a senior account director in April 2021, while he was the cabinet member responsible for the council’s asset disposals, its capital programme and Growth Zone. King maintains that he has always made all possible declarations and removed himself from any discussions in which his employers may have had an interest.
Bargain deal: the Croydon Park Hotel was sold for £5m less than the council paid for it
Terrapin clients have also included Amro Real Estate Partners, who in January 2022 bought the Croydon Park Hotel from the council. The council had bought the hotel for £29.8million – more than the asking price – in a controversial, secretive deal in 2018. Less than four years later, the council sold it to Amro for £24.9million.
Fairview New Homes and Bellway are other Terrapin clients who have been active on the Croydon property market and dealing with the council’s planning department.
And all done entirely legally, of course.
King’s responsibilities as a councillor and leader of the Town Hall opposition, which he fulfils in his own time, will continue to see him paid more than £30,000 in allowances per year.
Read more: After billions in regeneration deals, might Bingle eye Croydon?
Read more: Council deputy leader gets new job working for lobbyists
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want 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
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
