Category Archives: Malcolm Wicks MP

Croydon Tory Philp poised for promotion in Truss cabinet

Today promises to be a momentous day for Britain. But not in a good way. Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on how the promotion of a Croydon MP is a signal of mediocrity of the Tory government Liz Truss is expected … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon South, Malcolm Wicks MP | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

After eight-year wait, Croydon delivers homes on Taberner site

Eight years since the old council offices, Taberner House, that stood on the site, was vacated, and many months later than the council’s chosen developers had planned for the build to be complete, the ribbon was cut this week on … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Malcolm Wicks MP, Mayor of London, Planning, Property, Taberner House, Tom Copley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Shawcross redemption: transport deputy changes gear

The former leader of Croydon Council was a surprise appointment by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. But it is already proving to be a shrewd decision. By WALTER CRONXITE Val Shawcross, the former leader of Croydon Council who has been … Continue reading

Posted in Boris Bikes, Boris Johnson, Commuting, Croydon North, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Malcolm Wicks MP, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Steve Reed MP, TfL, Tramlink, Transport, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Red faces for Reed and supporters as CLP picks Corbyn

WALTER CRONXITE reports from the back row of a Thornton Heath church hall at a local Labour Party meeting, where the Blairites are becoming increasingly shrill in their discomfort Steve Reed OBE, the Progress MP for Lambeth South, is looking … Continue reading

Posted in Catriona Ogilvy, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Malcolm Wicks MP, Patsy Cummings, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Constituency members snub MP Reed in CLP election

Is Lambeth South starting to be reclaimed as Croydon North? It is difficult not to put that sort of construction on matters when the MP, Steve Reed OBE, was reduced to lobbying local party members to vote for his friend … Continue reading

Posted in Catriona Ogilvy, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Malcolm Wicks MP, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

96 days to go and councillors’ self-interest is showing

Have you had someone with a rosette knock at your door yet? You will, says WALTER CRONXITE, you will. Though how the tax-payers of Croydon will benefit from one of the longest election campaigns in history is questionable Fed up … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Addiscombe West, Chris Wright, Croydon Central, Dudley Mead, Eddy Arram, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, Jan Buttinger, Jason Cummings, Jason Perry, Louisa Woodley, Maggie Mansell, Malcolm Wicks MP, Margaret Mead, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Mark Watson, Patricia Hay-Justice, Robert Canning, Sara Bashford, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Hollands, Tim Pollard, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman, Wayne Lawlor, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tories pick councillor who oversaw £12m riot cash to own ward

Croydon Tories have ensured that the 2011 riots will be a live issue at the 2015 General Election after choosing Fairfield councillor Vidhi Mohan as their candidate to stand in Croydon North – the man who, when a cabinet member … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, 8/8: London Road stories, Broad Green, Business, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Malcolm Wicks MP, Steve Reed MP, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

MP’s life story that raises serious questions for the future

DAVID WHITE reviews the posthumous autobiography of Croydon North MP Malcolm Wicks and finds that he carried his decency to the end Malcolm Wicks was a rarity among politicians. The MP for Croydon North-West, later Croydon North, from 1992 until … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon North, Malcolm Wicks MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon’s “Deep Throat”: Frank Field breaks his silence

Frank Field, the veteran campaigner on social policy, has broken a five-decade omerta over the identity of a government whistle-blower who helped shame a Labour government into honouring its election promise to introduce child benefit. Field’s admission this week explained … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon North, History, Malcolm Wicks MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Memories of Malcolm Wicks, MP who gave people a real voice

My Life, the autobiography of the late Croydon North MP, Malcolm Wicks, is published today. Exclusively here, ALISON BUTLER, who managed his constituency office for more than 20 years, writes of how his memory still brings a fond smile Although … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Alison Butler, Croydon 8/8, Croydon North, Malcolm Wicks MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

London Road still bypassed by aid, media and politicians

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The area worst-hit by arson and looting on the night of the riots has never been a priority, right from the moment the first petrol bombs were hurled on August 8, 2011, says PATRICK RATNARAJA London Road has … Continue reading

Posted in 8/8: London Road stories, Broad Green, Community associations, Crime, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon Tamil Business Forum, Gavin Barwell, Jon Rouse, London Road Traders Association, Malcolm Wicks MP, West Croydon Community Forum | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Local leader Newman backs Butler in Central selection race

Labour makes its candidate selection for the Croydon Central parliamentary seat from a four-strong all-woman short-list tomorrow, with a leading figure in the party locally warning that they face “one of the toughest of political battles ever”. According to Inside … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Alison Butler, Bensham Manor, Catriona Ogilvy, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Louisa Woodley, Malcolm Wicks MP, Sarah Jones MP, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Holocaust memorial concert: Sat Jan 26, Ruskin House

A holocaust memorial concert, an evening of remembrance and entertainment, is being held at Ruskin House in Coombe Road this Saturday. The concert will honour those communities who were persecuted in the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution in the 1930s and … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Charity, Community associations, Dance, Education, History, Malcolm Wicks MP, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Abandoned: Steve Reed on the fate of 8/8 riot victims

Yesterday, Croydon North‘s new MP, Steve Reed, made his maiden speech in parliament. Here, from Hansard, is that speech in full I am honoured to stand in this Chamber as the Member of Parliament for Croydon North. During the recent … Continue reading

Posted in 8/8: London Road stories, Croydon 8/8, Croydon North, Malcolm Wicks MP | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reed victory sends danger signals to Croydon Tories for 2014

CROYDON COMMENTARY: There was a reason for Steve Reed’s campaign to focus so much on the state of our streets. It was because Labour are planning to clean-up at the next council elections, say ANDREW PELLING Eddy Arram, the neutral … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Stranack, Ashburton, Clare Hilley, Coulsdon East, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Eddy Arram, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Lee Jasper, Malcolm Wicks MP, Mike Fisher, New Addington, Shirley North, Simon Hoar, Steve Reed MP, Vidhi Mohan, Waddon, Winston McKenzie | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pelling predicts: Croydon by-election will set a record of sorts

ANDREW PELLING, a former Croydon MP, councillor and London Assembly member, has been following the by-election campaign and here analyses the high points and low marks of the past six weeks in a giant constituency which today will set a … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Pelling, Andrew Stranack, Croydon Greens, Croydon North, Gavin Barwell, Lee Jasper, Malcolm Wicks MP, Marisha Ray, Shasha Khan, Steve Reed MP, Winston McKenzie | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pelling predicts: by-election a battle for minor places

As the polling stations open across Croydon North this morning, Andrew Pelling, Inside Croydon‘s chief political correspondent, is predicting that the by-election will be won by Labour’s Steve Reed with an increased share of the vote. The parliamentary by-election is … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Stranack, Croydon North, Lee Jasper, Malcolm Wicks MP, Steve Reed MP, Winston McKenzie | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ken’s Croydon visit sees the “two-horse race” run again

Any hopes that Lee Jasper might have had that his former boss, Ken Livingstone, would back his campaign for election to parliament as the Respect candidate in Croydon North look set to be dashed on Wednesday morning. Livingstone, the former … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Croydon North, Ken Livingstone, Lee Jasper, Malcolm Wicks MP, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rouse rumbled: council CEO shows his election colours

When Iain Duncan-Smith, the works and pension minister in the ConDem government and a former leader of the Conservative party, stands up and opens an address to a meeting by stating that, “obviously”, he is there to support his party’s … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Stranack, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Gavin Barwell, Jon Rouse, Malcolm Wicks MP, Mike Fisher | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nov 29: “Moving the writ” confirms Croydon election date

The Croydon North by-election date is confirmed today with Labour “moving the writ” in parliament. ANDREW PELLING, a former parliamentarian, explains the arcane process It isn’t just courts that issue writs. The people of Croydon North have been waiting for … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Stranack, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Gavin Barwell, Lee Jasper, Malcolm Wicks MP, Marisha Ray, Steve Reed MP, Winston McKenzie | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jesse Jackson, the rabbit run and looking pretty in pink

CAMPAIGN CATCH-UP: With candidates selected and canvassing now under way, how is the Croydon North election shaping up? The Respect party’s Croydon North campaign is going well… in America. Respect this week claimed that Jesse Jackson, the renowned United States … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Stranack, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Gavin Barwell, Lee Jasper, Malcolm Wicks MP, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Galloway and Barwell seize upon Reed’s one-vote victory

Steve Reed today offered “a new vision for Croydon” to win selection as the Labour party candidate for Croydon North. But the Lambeth Council leader’s selection, reportedly by a single vote from Valerie Shawcross after second preferences were included, represents … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Stranack, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Gavin Barwell, Lambeth Council, Lee Jasper, London Assembly, Malcolm Wicks MP, Mike Fisher, Steve Reed MP, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Labour selects Reed as candidate for Croydon North

Steve Reed is to be the Labour party candidate for the Croydon North by-election when it is staged later this month. Inside sources suggest that Reed may have won the ballot by as few as three votes from his closest … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Croydon North, Faz Hakim, Lambeth Council, London Assembly, Louisa Woodley, Malcolm Wicks MP, Simon Burgess, Steve Reed MP, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reed bends with the wind as he seeks selection in Croydon

Steve Reed divides opinions. He thinks he’s great. Others who have had to deal with the leader of Lambeth Council tend to disagree. “He’s more Blairite than Tony Blair,” was one of the more polite views aired when Reed announced … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Croydon North, Faz Hakim, Housing, Lambeth Council, Louisa Woodley, Malcolm Wicks MP, Simon Burgess, Steve Reed MP, URV, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Woodley makes a late run for Croydon North nomination

Louisa Woodley, the Labour candidate who beat the Conservatives across Croydon in May’s London Assembly elections, has made a late push to be her party’s candidate for the Croydon North parliamentary by-election. The by-election is expected to be held on … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, Croydon North, Faz Hakim, Louisa Woodley, Malcolm Wicks MP, Steve Reed MP, Thornton Heath, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment