Recent Comments
JJ on ‘Strong interest’… Arfur Towcrate on Council chief Kerswell has dou… Andrew Pelling on May 2’s election day wil… Stephen Tyler on Obasa’s goal wins the Tr… Mathew Hill on May 2’s election day wil… Andrew Pelling on Council chief Kerswell has dou…
Category Archives: Val Shawcross
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 Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon South, Jamie Audsley, Keir Starmer, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Tory, Val Shawcross, Waddon
1 Comment
Voters looking for third parties’ assurance over reds and blues
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Opinion polls suggest that the Tories should have no chance of electoral success in this borough. But as WALTER CRONXITE outlines in this second part of a special report, ‘the Croydon effect’ of the Newman years has … Continue reading
Posted in Ben Taylor, Claire Bonham, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Croydon North, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Ria Patel, Sarah Jones MP, Section 114 notice, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
Tagged Claire Bonham, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon South, Esther Sutton, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Tory
4 Comments
Bonner replaces Reed’s ‘Bodger’ as Labour right keep tight grip
Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on the rearranging of the deckchairs after the party’s ship in Croydon has already sunk Carole Bonner, the former councillor and long-time loyalist of the discredited Tony Newman, is the new chair of the Croydon … Continue reading
Posted in Carole Bonner, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, David Evans, Fairfield, London-wide issues, Paul Scott, Simon Hall, Steve Reed MP, Stuart King, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross, Waddon
Tagged Amy Fode, Carole Bonner, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon North, David Evans, Joel Bodmer, Labour, LCF, Local Campaign Forum, London, London Borough of Croydon, Pearleen Sangha, Simon Hall, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
10 Comments
Shawcross makes first move towards a possible run for MP
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the latest round of horse-trading in the local Labour Party after its crushing defeats in the local elections After an almost complete absence from politics in her home borough for 20 years, there’s now mounting … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon North, Steve Reed MP, Val Shawcross
Tagged Croydon, Croydon North, Joel Bodmer, Labour, Steve Reed OBE, Val Shawcross
3 Comments
Mayor has weeks to save Fairfield Halls and Borough of Culture
It is symptomatic of BHLive’s lack of real connection with the borough in which they are supposed to manage its largest arts venue that they chose the day of the Croydon local election results to make the announcement of the … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Neil Chandler, Paula Murray, Sadiq Khan, The Wreck, Theatre, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
Tagged Ashcroft Theatre, BHLive, Bournemouth, Chris Symons, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Fairfield Halls, Jason Perry, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
10 Comments
‘Based on this year’s elections, Croydon is in a very bad place’
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Reports over Croydon’s local elections have been lodged with the Electoral Commission and with Scotland Yard. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES There could yet be further repercussions around Katherine Kerswell’s chronic mishandling of Croydon’s “never-ending” election count, which earlier … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Carole Bonner, Croydon Council, Jon Rouse, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, South Croydon, Trinity School, Val Shawcross
Tagged Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Electoral Commission, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor, Mayor Jason Perry, Metropolitan Police, Richard Howard, South Croydon, Tory, Trinity School, Val Shawcross, Whitgift Foundation
11 Comments
Election results leave Labour supporters angry and dismayed
With the final declaration in, WALTER CRONXITE reports on the state of the council after the 2022 elections By the end, the emotions on show at the Croydon Council election count at Trinity School were less those of shock, disappointment … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Broad Green, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jade Appleton, Jason Perry, Katherine Kerswell, Kola Agboola, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, New Addington North, Oliver Lewis, Park Hill and Whitgift, Paul Scott, Peter Underwood, Planning, Robert Canning, Sanderstead, Selhurst, South Croydon, Steve Reed MP, Tony Pearson, Val Shawcross, Waddon, Yvette Hopley
Tagged 2022 Local Elections, Adele Benson, Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Conservative, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon North, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mayor, New Addington North, New Addington South, Paul Scott, Ria Patel, South Croydon, South Norwood, Steve Reed OBE, Thornton Heath, Tory
13 Comments
Labour’s Town Hall group in rush to crown King as new leader
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the latest behind-the-scenes moves by some of those who helped bankrupt the council The Labour group at the council, now reduced to 34 councillors, is moving swiftly to anoint Stuart King as their new leader. … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Hamida Ali, Joy Prince, Manju Shahul Hameed, Paul Scott, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
Tagged Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Fairfield, Hamida Ali, Manju Shahul Hameed, New Addington, Stuart Collins, STUART KING, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
3 Comments
From bankrupt to laughing stock as council count continues
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the country’s longest-lasting election count, and more unwanted notoriety for Croydon The Croydon election count looks set to head into a fifth day, and its second week, after yesterday’s session at Trinity School managed to … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Clive Fraser, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Jason Perry, Jeet Bains, Katherine Kerswell, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Maria Gatland, New Addington, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross, Waddon, West Thornton, Woodside
Tagged Addiscombe West, Alison Butler, Boris Johnson, Clive Fraser, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Jason Perry, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Maddie Henson, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, Tory, Val Shawcross
30 Comments
Tory Perry wins historic Mayor election by less than 600 votes
Democracy was kept waiting while council officials struggled with their abacuses. By our sleep-deprived political editor, WALTER CRONXITE Jason Perry has been declared the first elected Mayor of Croydon, after a borough-wide vote sent a message to the local Labour … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Croydon Greens, Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Trinity School, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
Tagged 2022 Local Elections, 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Green Party, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Tory, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
36 Comments
Serious questions raised on King’s rule over asset disposals
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council’s erstwhile deputy leader has been named among 75 councillors across the capital who are working for the property and development industry. By STEVEN DOWNES Stuart King, who until Wednesday, at least, was the deputy leader of … Continue reading
Voters’ stark choice: scandal-hit Labour or scandal-hit Tories
In his latest column for Inside Croydon, ANDREW FISHER, looks ahead to the most intriguing contest in London’s local elections this year Labour mayoral candidate Val Shawcross has made no attempt to hide her frustration, at times bordering on contempt, … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Andrew Pelling, Jason Perry, Val Shawcross
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Fisher, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Green Party, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor, Tory, Val Shawcross
6 Comments
Dear New Mayor: time to come clean with council’s secrets
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Whoever is elected on Thursday as the borough’s first Mayor will inherit an in-tray weighed down with a raft of controversial reports and investigations into missing millions, the details of which have been kept secret for far too … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Jason Perry, Robert Ward, Selsdon and Addington Village, Val Shawcross
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Robert Ward, Selsdon, Selsdon and Addington Village, Tory, Val Shawcross
3 Comments
Not for the first time, questions were better than the answers
And with a week to election day, the last of the set-piece hustings was staged at The Wreck at the Fairfield Halls last night. KEN TOWL, pictured right, went along, so that you wouldn’t have to… So what did we … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Fairfield Halls, Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, The Wreck, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Boris Johnson, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Farah London, Gavin Palmer, Green Party, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Tory, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
27 Comments
Stumped on the stump: candidates caught out over 2nd choice
It has been said that politics is a form of performance art… so using a stage in The Wreck for election hustings last night was quite appropriate. But it was one question that stole the show It was the first … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Tory, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
3 Comments
This is the stark human cost of the borough going bankrupt
CROYDON IN CRISIS: A mum of six children is facing destitution after the council has made her family more than £200 per month worse off by cutting her Council Tax Support and failing to provide its promised hardship scheme. EXCLUSIVE … Continue reading
Labour ‘most worried’ about losing Croydon in local elections
As election day looms ever closer, WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, finds the borough’s third-rate politicians fretting over the possible loss of their first-rate council allowances Croydon Council is the London borough which the Labour Party says it is “most worried” … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe West, Brick by Brick, Chris Philp MP, Jason Perry, Jo Negrini, New Addington, New Addington North, Planning, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Val Shawcross
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Alison Butler, Boris Johnson, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, New Addington, Paul Scott, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Tory, Val Shawcross
4 Comments
The Tories’ record on policing numbers does not add up
Crime is an important issue in Croydon’s council and Mayoral elections. Or at least it should be. ANDREW FISHER polices the claims of the competing camps, and adds some essential context Policing matters. The amount of violent crime is higher … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Boris Johnson, Broad Green, Chris Philp MP, Crime, Croydon BID, Dave Stringer, Fairfield, Jason Perry, Knife crime, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, New Addington, New Addington North, Policing, Sadiq Khan, Val Shawcross
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Fisher, Boris Johnson, Conservative, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, knife crime, Labour, Metropolitan Police, New Addington, Sadiq Khan, Stephen Lawrence, Tory, Val Shawcross, youth knife crime
1 Comment
Half of Shawcross’ team helped keep Newman in power
CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: There’s probably a reason that Val Shawcross has neglected to publish details of who is working on her very well-funded Mayoral election campaign: it includes seven councillors who helped to bankrupt the borough. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Carole Bonner, Chris Clark, Clive Fraser, Croydon North, Maddie Henson, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Sherwan Chowdhury, Simon Hall, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross, Waddon
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Carole Bonner, Clive Fraser, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Labour, Maddie Henson, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Stuart Collins, Val Shawcross
8 Comments
Choir demands compensation over BHLive’s Fairfield shambles
CROYDON IN CRISIS: BHLive, the under-fire operators of the council-owned arts complex, have been accused of costing one of the borough’s top arts groups thousands of pounds because of their poor management of the prestige venue. By our arts correspondent, … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Pelling, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Croydon Philharmonic Choir, Fairfield Halls, Music, Oliver Lewis, Theatre, Val Shawcross
Tagged Andrew Pelling, BHLive, Brick by Brick, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Philharmonic Choir, Fairfield Halls, Labour, Oliver Lewis, Peter Underwood
6 Comments
Mayor candidate Shawcross’s ‘new’ direction not so new at all
Any ‘clean break’ with the incompetence and graft of the past at Croydon Town Hall that is being offered by Labour Mayoral candidate Val Shawcross appears doomed by her own campaign’s deep-rooted connections with discredited Tony Newman and some of … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Alisa Flemming, Brick by Brick, Broad Green, Business, Callton Young, Children's Services, Chris Clark, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, David Evans, Fairfield Halls, Fly tipping, Hamida Ali, Humayun Kabir, Karen Jewitt, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Meals on Wheels, Planning, Refuse collection, Sarah Jones MP, Schools, Sean Fitzsimons, SEND, Sherwan Chowdhury, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross, Veolia
Tagged Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Alisa Flemming, Brick by Brick, Broad Green, Callton Young, Clive Fraser, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Karen Jewitt, Labour, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Sean Fitzsimons, South Norwood, Steve Reed OBE, Stuart Collins, STUART KING, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
2 Comments
Mayor will have little say over borough’s rubbish contractors
CROYDON COMMENTARY: It is one of the biggest and most important services provided by any local council. But the manner in which the borough has outsourced the management of bin collections, street cleaning and waste disposal and recycling has become … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Business, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, idVerde, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Peter Underwood, Refuse collection, Stuart Collins, Sutton Council, Val Shawcross, Veolia, Waste incinerator
Tagged #Binmageddon, #MuckyMerton, #SuttonBinShame, 'Royal' Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Beddington Lane incinerator, Croydon Council, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Merton Council, SLWP, South London Waste Partnership, Stuart Collins, Sutton Council, Veolia, Viridor
4 Comments
Labour staffer caught trying to cheat online election poll
CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: Professional organiser resorts to devious methods to try to make Shawcross campaign look stronger. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES A paid Labour Party official – and a member of the campaign team for Val Shawcross, the party’s … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Andrew Pelling, Maddie Henson, South Croydon, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross, Waddon
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Addiscombe East, Andrew Pelling, Anthony Ellis, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Jack Buck, Labour, Maddie Henson, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
2 Comments
Labour axed Meals on Wheels service to save just £24,000
EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s Labour-run council will save the grand total of £24,000 per year by cutting its Meals on Wheels service to hundreds of vulnerable and elderly residents, Inside Croydon has discovered. As reported exclusively by this website … Continue reading
