Category Archives: Richard Howard

Earthquake election but Croydon only felt some small tremors

TV and radio politics pundit ANDREW FISHER, right, looks at Croydon’s local election results in the context of the seismic elections that took place across Britain Across England, Wales and Scotland, the 2026 elections delivered a political earthquake that rocked … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Croydon Greens, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Labour’s Davis should be in front when final whistle is blown

ONE DAY TO GO: An unusually subdued local campaign enters the final day with a last-minute visit from the Leader of the Opposition to try to salvage the Tory Mayor’s hopes of re-election. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through the … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Rowenna Davis, Steve Reed MP, Zack Polanski | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Polls tighten in Town Hall race as Farage’s grifters get closer

SEVEN DAYS TO GO: You probably don’t want to read ‘It’s too close to call’ again, but judging by the latest, London-wide polling figures just published, the race to be Croydon Mayor is tighter than ever. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Rowenna Davis, Shirley North, Steve Reed MP, Zack Polanski | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

#DigitalDebate: Inside story from Croydon’s first e-hustings

Our hustings correspondent, KEN TOWL, has seen plenty of pre-election meetings before, but never one quite like this, as Inside Croydon brings the candidate debate into the 21st Century  Charmingly chaired by Cheryl Fergus-Ferrell, this was like no other hustings … Continue reading

Posted in #DigitalDebate, 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Croydon Greens, Inside Croydon, Ken Towl, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, Under The Flyover | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fewer than 100 votes in it between Perry and Davis for Mayor

Two weeks today, Croydon voters go to the polls to elect the Mayor of Croydon, with the bookies and pundits saying that in this corner of the capital, the race is just too close to call. Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Chris Philp MP, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Merton, New Addington South, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Rowenna Davis, Steve Reed MP, Sutton Council, Waddon, Zack Polanski | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Here is your chance to question the candidates for Mayor

For the first time ever, the leading candidates for Croydon Mayor will be taking part in a Digital Debate this week. And they will be answering the questions put by YOU, the readers of Inside Croydon. The team at Inside … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The truth is simple: we need to solve Croydon’s financial crisis

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Even before her own party bosses censored her manifesto, there were spending commitments being made by Rowenna Davis, Labour’s candidate for Croydon Mayor, that just don’t add up. LibDem candidate RICHARD HOWARD, pictured left, explains Rowenna Davis’s mayoral … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Council Tax, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Election countdown: splintered voting could see Davis win

Less than one month until election day, our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, looks at the latest polls and by-elections to assess – or guess – how the Croydon electorate will vote for executive Mayor on May 7 While the government … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Merton, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Shirley North, Sutton Council, Tony Newman, Zack Polanski | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Purley’s purdah banner is a matter of integrity and honesty

Which of these banners do you consider to provide the most honest messaging?

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Polaska, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Howard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

CEO accused of spending public cash for Perry’s benefit

A banner in council colours has appeared outside the Purley Pool this week lauding Jason Perry’s role in the (non-)development of the site in what rival politicians have described as a clear breach of election law. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Local media, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Polaska, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Howard, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

‘Decency’ hustings as no one missed the missing candidate

ELECTION SKETCH: In a cramped ‘hub’ in Broad Green, the first full hustings of the 2026 Croydon Mayor campaign took place last night. KEN TOWL was there, so you didn’t need to be (and you couldn’t have squeezed in, anyway) … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Community associations, Croydon Business Association, Ken Towl, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, Ruskin House | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

43 days to go and desperation is appearing in election leaflets

After all the calamities inflicted on Croydon by Tory Mayor Jason Perry, from his 33% Council Tax hikes to his unlawful LTN fines, has Labour fallen into their old trap of over-promising before under-delivering? WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, New Addington South, New Addington North, Old Coulsdon, Paul Scott, Ria Patel, Richard Howard, Shirley North, Shirley South, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bookies make Labour’s Davis favourite to win Mayor election

Bookmakers are taking bets on the outcome of the 2026 Croydon mayoral election, and they make Labour’s Rowenna Davis a short-priced 6-5 favourite to win at the local elections on May 7. Reform UK don’t yet even have a candidate … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Greens, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LibDem candidate Howard would axe chief exec role at council

EXCLUSIVE: In our latest Andrew Fisher Interview with candidates to become Croydon Mayor in the local elections on May 7, Richard Howard says that he would work on a cross-party basis at the Town Hall, would look at ways of … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Croydon Council, Richard Howard, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

It was a bad deal for Croydon. Why did they allow it to happen?

CROYDON COMMENTARY: With Tory Mayor Jason Perry using £½million of public money as a hush fund, RICHARD HOWARD, pictured right, the LibDem mayoral candidate, lays out all the obvious flaws with the council’s Red Clover Gardens scheme Two years ago, … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Brick by Brick, Business, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Housing, Ian Parker, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Howard, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, The Penn Report, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Kerswell quits! But what happens next at crisis-hit council?

Mayor Jason Perry’s political rivals call for his resignation after a week when auditors have warned over ‘unsustainable’ finances and his CEO has left Croydon with a generous £50,000 pay-off. By STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell may not be replaced as … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jane West, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Ainscough, Richard Howard, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Podcast: LibDem candidate says he’d clear-out council execs

EXCLUSIVE: Our Croydon Insider podcast, exclusive premium content for our paying subscribers, this month went behind the headlines to look at the scandal of agency payments at the cash-strapped council, where they are paying more than £700 per hour for … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Coulsdon, Croydon Insider, Elaine Jackson, Inside Croydon, Katherine Kerswell, Marie Snelling, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Howard, Under The Flyover | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Ex-bomb disposal officer is boxing for Felix Fund charity

The 2026 local election campaign has barely got underway, but already one of the contenders is having to bob and weave. When Richard Howard steps into the boxing ring at the Westcroft Leisure Centre in Carshalton tonight, he will be … Continue reading

Posted in Boxing, Charity, Richard Howard, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council accused of cover-up over multi-million agency spend

CROYDON IN CRISIS: LibDems’ election candidate has examined expenditure accounts and confirms that spending on temporary staff has risen to £53m per year under Tory Mayor. By STEVEN DOWNES  Richard Howard, the Liberal Democrat candidate standing for Croydon Mayor next … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Children's Services, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, General Purposes and Audit Committee, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Howard, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

‘Scandalous’ planners condemn Coulsdon’s chippy to closure

Croydon’s planners have condemned Glade Fisheries, a long-cherished Old Coulsdon business, to its doom without a peep from the local councillors or Mayor Jason Perry. In March, KJC Architects applied to the council on behalf of the property’s landlord to … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Margaret Bird, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Planning, Richard Howard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Labour figures accuse wasteful Perry of ‘serious incompetence’

‘Once again, the people of Croydon are paying the price for the failure of politicians who don’t have our community’s interests at heart’, according to 2026 Mayoral candidate Rowenna Davis Labour’s candidate for Mayor of Croydon, Rowenna Davis, has accused … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon West, Elaine Jackson, Improvement Board, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Marie Snelling, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Radical change is overdue at council says LibDem Howard

A former Army bomb disposal expert who will be leading the Liberal Democrats’ election efforts in 2026 says Croydon’s residents are ‘fed up with paying more and getting less’ Richard Howard, the LibDems’ candidate for Mayor of Croydon in 2026, … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Improvement Board, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Marie Snelling, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Howard, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

It’s looking like Howard’s way for LibDems’ mayoral candidate

WALTER CRONXITE, our veteran political correspondent, reports on an unusual occurance for Croydon: the local Liberal Democrats getting ahead of the game While Councillor Rowenna Davis twiddles her thumbs and waits patiently for the Labour Party “machine” to crank into … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Rowenna Davis, Uncategorized, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

After Sunak’s washout on ‘Drowning St’, here comes a wipeout

GENERAL ELECTION SPECIAL: Our in-house psephological expert, WALTER CRONXITE, looks at Croydon’s new constituencies and the uncertain political prospects for some come July 4 With a sodden Prime Minister running away from letters of no confidence from his own party’s … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Anthony Boutall, Ben Taylor, Chris Philp MP, Claire Bonham, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Elaine Garrod, Gavin Barwell, Jason Cummings, Marley King, Natasha Irons, Richard Howard, Sarah Jones MP, Scott Ainslie, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Putting Croydon First: the reasons I am now a Liberal Democrat

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Yesterday we reported how a former Croydon MP is standing for election with his third political party. Here, ANDREW PELLING explains why his days as an independent candidate are over “All politics is local”. Tip O’Neill’s phrase has … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Claire Bonham, Croydon Central, Croydon East, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Park Hill and Whitgift, Richard Howard, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments