Category Archives: Andrew Pelling

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

Latest poll predicts the implausible with Philp doing Houdini act

Labour candidates have been briefed to say nothing or to claim ‘Nuffink to do wiv me, Guv’ is their best way of dodging questions about their party’s bankrupting the borough, as the campaign crawls its way towards its final week. … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Ben Taylor, Bobby Dean, Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Ellie Reeves MP, Elliot Colburn, Luke Taylor MP, Natasha Irons, Paul Scully MP, Sarah Jones MP, Sutton and Cheam | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Two weeks early and most candidates are conceding defeat

ELECTION SKETCH: As other parties’ candidates in Croydon East have admitted they will lose come July 4, Labour’s shoo-in as a new MP calls her party’s bankrupting of the borough and its part in illegal hacking as ‘a load of … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Croydon East, Jason Cummings, Ken Towl, Natasha Irons, Peter Underwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Perry’s ‘sale’ of Coulsdon flats will cost Croydon £60million!

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The borough’s Tory Mayor is accused of ‘doing a Tony Newman’ over a multi-million-pound property deal, one which will cost future generations tens of millions. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Meet the new boss. Same as the old … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Business, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon South, Housing, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Mears, Property, Rick Howard, Susmita Sen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

LibDems name their candidates and Philp forgets he’s a Tory

Finally, days after the General Election was announced, Croydon’s Liberal Democrats have got around to confirming their four candidates for July 4 – details of which Inside Croydon had reported on weeks ago. The LibDems, who have had only a … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Chris Philp MP, Claire Bonham, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Jahir Hussain, Rick Howard, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

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

Hellraiser on the ballot paper for Woodside ward by-election

The Greens are bringing a Hellraiser to the council by-elections being held next month. Nicholas Burman-Vince, the actor who played Chatterer Cenobite in Clive Barker’s cult Hellraiser movies, is the Green Party’s candidate for Woodside in the by-election being held … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Andrew Pelling, Andrew Price, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Jess Hammersley-Rich, Mike Bonello, Park Hill and Whitgift, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t panic! MP Philp could lose seat in Tory election wipe-out

By our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE Inside Croydon’s long-dormant mole inside Croydon Tories’ headquarters in Purley (it’s been an especially long winter, even for small furry creatures that don’t usually hibernate) reports having been rudely awoken by the sound of … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Ben Taylor, Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, London-wide issues, Paul Scully MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 39 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

Party animal Pelling looks to run in Croydon East – for LibDems

ELECTIONS 2024: The former MP is hoping to stage a comeback in the new parliamentary seat by joining his third political party. EXCLUSIVE by our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE Andrew Pelling, a former Conservative MP and Labour councillor in Croydon, … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Croydon Central, Croydon East, Gavin Barwell, Inside Croydon, Jason Cummings, Natasha Irons, Peter Underwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Perry’s promotional tour sees Mayor say more than he meant

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Fewer than 30 people turned up this week for the latest stage in Jason Perry’s council-funded grand tour of the borough. And five of them were police. Season ticket-holder ANDREW PELLING, left, was in South Norwood to see … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Refuse collection, Regina Road redevelopment, South Norwood, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Perry pleads poverty when he has more Council Tax than ever

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The Government’s local council settlement announced on Monday saw Michael Gove give special licence to some authorities to hike their Council Tax by an eye-watering 10%. The reason our borough wasn’t on that list, says ANDREW PELLING, is … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Tory Perry launches ‘Urban Room’ where nothing’s happening

Our retailing correspondent, MT WALLETTE, reports on the latest half-cock initiative from the council to ‘revive’ the ailing town centre: an insta account and a desperate plea for ideas from the public Mayor Jason Perry’s latest feeble effort to somehow … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Andrew Pelling, Business, Centrale, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield, Growth Zone, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Peter Underwood, Planning, Ria Patel, Secret Cinema, Stiles Harold Williams, TfL, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Calls for Electoral Commission to intervene on Croydon votes

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council cannot be trusted to run elections in the borough, according to senior political officials. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES An experienced election agent for the Labour Party has effectively declared that he has no confidence in … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, 2024 General Election, 2024 London elections, Andrew Pelling, Croydon Council, David White, John Wentworth, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bellway’s lido plans take a nose dive as permission is refused

Housing correspondent BARRATT HOLMES on how things have not gone swimmingly for one of the country’s biggest housebuilders as its plans for 180 homes by Purley Way playing fields have gone down the plughole Croydon Council’s professional planners, after encouraging … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Housing, Joy Prince, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Planning, Property, Purley Way, Purley Way Lido, Robert Canning, Transport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mayor Perry to spend thousands on certificates for old mates

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The Conservatives at the cash-strapped council are still wasting public money when it comes to doling out meaningless bits of ceremonial tat to their mates. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Mayor Jason Perry, who earlier in the … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Badsha Quadir, Croydon Council, Jan Buttinger, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Louisa Woodley, Mayor Jason Perry, Pat Clouder, Pat Ryan, Paul Scott, Shafi Khan, Simon Hall, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Tony Pearson, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Councillors line up Stormzy for the Freedom of the Borough

More dither and delay by our cash-strapped council, after they are forced to  check whether the global superstar rapper will accept a civic honour. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s Labour councillors want to give Stormzy the Freedom of the Borough. … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Badsha Quadir, Bernadette Khan, Croydon Council, Gerry Ryan, Helen Pollard, Jane Avis, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Louisa Woodley, Maggie Mansell, Mayor Jason Perry, Pat Clouder, Paul Scott, Shafi Khan, Simon Hall, Simon Hoar, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Perry says there’s no alternative to his budget. But there’s lots

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Former Conservative MP and Labour councillor ANDREW PELLING, pictured right, an independent candidate in last year’s mayoral election, says that the Mayor has broken a fundamental promise to the borough’s residents  Mayor Jason Perry has adopted a ham-fisted … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Business, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

15% tax hike sends council hurtling into constitutional crisis

ANDREW PELLING on how Mayor Perry faces a humiliating defeat over his controversial first budget because of some less-than-clear legislation, while the borough’s councillors could be in for some very long nights in the Town Hall Chamber Cash-strapped Croydon Council … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Andrew Pelling, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Newman’s defence slips: there’s ‘no evidence’ of wrongdoing

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The latest in-depth coverage of the borough’s bankruptcy by a national newspaper sees the former Labour council leader dump blame on his erstwhile colleagues. By STEVEN DOWNES The council leader who oversaw Town Hall meetings and gatherings … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Callton Young, Clive Fraser, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Inside Croydon, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Manju Shahul Hameed, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Conservative Mayor Perry loses 3 votes at Town Hall meeting

ANDREW PELLING reports from the Press Gallery on success for Labour, Green and LibDem councillors in opposing Tory moves to cut Council Tax benefits to old age pensioners and the poor Jason Perry, the Conservative Mayor of Croydon, lost three … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Amy Foster, Andrew Pelling, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jason Cummings, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, Mario Creatura, Mayor Jason Perry, Nina Degrads, Rowenna Davis, Sherwan Chowdhury, Stuart King, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The ‘Croydon Factor’ could yet damage Labour MPs’ prospects

CROYDON IN CRISIS: With the party flying high in the polls nationally, Labour’s London region staged a conference over the weekend where the mood was bullish as the implosion of the Tory government and its tax dodgers continues. But for … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Ben Taylor, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Mayor Jason Perry, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Perry about to giveaway millions in social housing flog-off

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The new Mayor wants to run a ‘minimal council’, and is getting pensioners and the worst-off to pay for its financial turmoil while he arranges a £36m property deal that seriously undervalues public assets, says ANDREW PELLING Nothing … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Perry LIED to council over Brick by Brick’s ‘stair-less’ house

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Opposition councillors demand an immediate apology and question whether the borough’s credulous Tory Mayor can be trusted. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Officials from Croydon Council have been forced to admit that the Conservative Mayor, Jason Perry, lied … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Section 114 notice, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Town centre stations should be the focus for future vision

With more shops closing and others reducing their floor space in the run-down Whitgift Centre, ANDREW PELLING looks east for solutions to address the town centre’s retail decline The continued loss of retail outlets in Croydon comes as high street … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Andrew Pelling, Boxpark, Business, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Planning, TfL, Tramlink, Transport, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, West Croydon, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments