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Category Archives: Barry Lewis
With 51 councillors, ‘Basher’ Lewis faces a fight for his survival
INSIDE SUTTON: After winning 51 of 55 seats in the local elections, you’d be forgiven for thinking everything’s going smoothly for Sutton’s LibDem council leader Barry ‘Basher’ Lewis. But ahead of next Tuesday’s annual council meeting, there’s already moves for … Continue reading →
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Beddington councillor receives phone threat from Reform
INSIDE SUTTON: Labour and independent councillors form political alliance to challenge Nigel Farage’s party as official council opposition EXCLUSIVE by CARL SHILTON Nick Mattey, the maverick independent councillor for Beddington, says that he received a threatening call to his private … Continue reading →
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Posted in Alison Long, Barry Lewis, Dave Tchil, Helen Bailey, Janey Gould, Nick Mattey, Outside Croydon, Sutton Council
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Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 local elections, Alison Long, Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Barry Lewis, Beddington, Conservative, Dave Tchil, Hackbridge, Hapless Helen Bailey, Helen Bailey, Janey Gould, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Nick Mattey, Reform Ltd, Reform UK, St Helier West, Sutton Council, Tory
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#LocalElections2026: Greens make bigger inroads than Reform
Final result (after 28 wards declared): Lab 30 (-4), Cons 28 (-5), Grn 7 (+5), LibDem 2 (+1), Oth* 1, Ref 2 (+2) Ellie Sandover, niece of Labour PM Keir Starmer, elected to council for Bensham Manor ward Mark Adderley, … Continue reading →
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Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Adele Benson, Barry Lewis, Ben Flook, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Chris Clark, Chris Philp MP, Claire Bonham, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Dave Tchil, Elaine Jackson, Ellie Sandover, Fairfield, Graham Mitchell, Housing, Inside Croydon, Ken Towl, Kenley, Kola Agboola, Leila Ben-Hassel, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Natasha Irons, New Addington North, Nick Mattey, Norbury, Norbury Park, Old Coulsdon, Park Hill and Whitgift, Paul Ainscough, Purley, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Ria Patel, Rowenna Davis, Sadiq Khan, Sanderstead, Sarah Jones MP, Selhurst, Selsdon and Addington Village, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, Shirley North, Shirley South, South Croydon, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Sutton Council, Thornton Heath, Tim Foster, Tom Drummond, Tony Pearson, Waddon, West Thornton, Woodside
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Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Ben Flook, Chris Philp MP, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Coulsdon, Councillor Rowenna Davis, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Reform Ltd, Reform UK, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, South Norwood, Tory
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Orangewash: Reform Ltd hands Sutton council to the LibDems
INSIDE SUTTON: Labour now have more council seats in Sutton than the Conservatives, after a local election wipeout It was carnage for the Conservatives in Sutton overnight, as Barry “Basher” Lewis and his Liberal Democrats hardly had to lift a … Continue reading →
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Posted in 2026 council elections, Barry Lewis, Dave Tchil, Nick Mattey, Outside Croydon, Ruth Dombey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton Council, Tim Foster
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Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 local elections, Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Barry Lewis, Conservative, Dave Tchil, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Nick Mattey, Reform Ltd, Reform UK, Sutton Council, Tory
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8 Comments
#LocalElections2026: Live coverage from the Croydon count
Tory Jason Perry clings on to power as Croydon Mayor, dealing crushing blow to Labour’s hopes as he wins second term by 1,113 votes from Rowenna Davis It’s Conservative carnage in Sutton Labour losses in Wandsworth and Westminster Reform charmer … Continue reading →
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Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Adele Benson, Barry Lewis, Ben Flook, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Chris Clark, Chris Philp MP, Claire Bonham, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Dave Tchil, Elaine Jackson, Ellie Sandover, Fairfield, Graham Mitchell, Housing, Inside Croydon, Ken Towl, Kenley, Kola Agboola, Leila Ben-Hassel, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Natasha Irons, New Addington North, Nick Mattey, Norbury, Norbury Park, Old Coulsdon, Park Hill and Whitgift, Paul Ainscough, Purley, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Ria Patel, Rowenna Davis, Sadiq Khan, Sanderstead, Sarah Jones MP, Selhurst, Selsdon and Addington Village, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, Shirley North, Shirley South, South Croydon, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Sutton Council, Thornton Heath, Tim Foster, Tom Drummond, Tony Pearson, Waddon, West Thornton, Woodside
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Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Ben Flook, Chris Philp MP, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Coulsdon, Councillor Rowenna Davis, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Reform Ltd, Reform UK, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, South Norwood, Tory
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47 Comments
Reform’s arrival in Sutton could clear path for ruling LibDems
The elections on May 7 seem likely to return a Liberal Democrat council – one strengthened by seats won from the Tories by Reform, who are fielding some candidates who don’t even bother disguising their racist views and support for … Continue reading →
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Posted in 2026 council elections, Barry Lewis, Carshalton and Wallington, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council
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Tagged anti-vaxers, Arlene Dearlove, Billy Cooper, Cancer, Carshalton and Wallington, Conservative, covid, Covid vaccine, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Prof Angus Dalgleish, Reform Ltd, Reform UK, Robert F Kennedy Jr, St Helier, Sutton, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Tory
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Sutton budget passes with £34.5m deficits to come by 2029
CIVIC CENTRE SKETCH: Sutton’s annual budget meeting proved to be just a subtext for a pre-election psycho-drama being played out behind closed doors by the ruling LibDems. BERTIE WORCESTER-PARK was there, ready for any guillotine motions During the Reign of … Continue reading →
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Posted in 2026 council elections, Barry Lewis, Bobby Dean, Carshalton and Wallington, David Campanale, Ed Parsley, Jayne McCoy, Luke Taylor MP, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Tim Foster, Tom Drummond
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Tagged 'Basher' Lewis, Barry Lewis, Bobby Dean MP, Cllr Sheldon Vestey, Conservative, Gemma Munday, Jayne McCoy, Leafleting cult, Liberal Democrats, Luke Taylor MP, Nick Mattey, Patrick Ogbonna, Señor Sheldon Vestey, Sheldon Vestey, St Helier Hospital, Sutton, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Tom Drummond
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LibDems rocked by councillor attack on Sutton leader Lewis
INSIDE SUTTON: With local elections just weeks away, the ruling group on the council has been shocked by a devastating resignation statement, including allegations of racism, ‘deception, deceit and duplicitous behaviour’. Our Civic Centre correspondent, ROSE HILL, reports In an … Continue reading →
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Posted in 2026 council elections, Barry Lewis, David Campanale, Jayne McCoy, Luke Taylor MP, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond
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Tagged 'Basher' Lewis, Barry Lewis, Conservative, Jayne McCoy, Leafleting cult, Liberal Democrats, Luke Taylor MP, Nick Mattey, Patrick Ogbonna, Sutton, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond
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The full text of Cllr Patrick Ogbonna’s resignation email
INSIDE SUTTON: Here’s the full text of Patrick Ogbonna’s email to all councillors, sent this morning, with ‘BREAKING NEWS: Standing Down… but Rising Up!’ in the subject field Morning, members. Re: the above, I recently met with the so called … Continue reading →
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EA set to allow Viridor to burn more toxic waste at Beddington
Sutton Council is accused of ‘hoisting the white flag’ after latest acidic air emissions, as a multi-billion American-owned business seems set to be allowed to pump even more pollution into the south London atmosphere. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES Local councillors … Continue reading →
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Posted in Barry Lewis, Bobby Dean, Broad Green, Business, Environment, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Nick Mattey, Refuse collection, Steve Reed MP, Sutton Council, Tim Foster, Waddon, Waste incinerator
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Tagged Air pollution, America, Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Broad Green, Conservative, Croydon Council, DEFRA, Department of Environment Farming and Rural Affairs, Donald Trump, Environment Agency, Infant mortality, Jason Perry, Jim Duffy, Kingston Council, Labour, London, Merton Council, Nick Mattey, Selhurst, SLWP, South London Waste Partnership, Steve Reed OBE, Sutton Council, Tim Foster, Tony Newman, Tory, United States, Viridor, Waddon
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The questions Sutton leader won’t answer about Throwley Yard
INSIDE SUTTON: A week after the last picture show at the council-subsidised cinema, why is Councillor Barry ‘Basher’ Lewis dodging serious matters of genuine public interest? By CARL SHILTON Throwley Yard Cinema in central Sutton staged its very own “Last … Continue reading →
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Posted in Barry Lewis, Bexley, Business, Cinema, Lewisham, Outside Croydon, Really Local Group, Sutton Council, Throwley Yard Cinema
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Tagged Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Barry Lewis, Catford, Future High Street Fund, Lewisham, Liberal Democrats, London, Preston Benson, Really Local Group, Sidcup, Sutton, Sutton Council, Throwley Yard Cinema
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Throwley Yard to close as company goes into administration
INSIDE SUTTON: A cinema which opened little more than a year ago using millions of pounds of public money is forced to shut from Sunday, leaving the council with little, if any, income from the venue. Our investigations editor, CARL … Continue reading →
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Posted in Barry Lewis, Bexley, Business, Cinema, Lewisham, Outside Croydon, Really Local Group, Sutton Council, Throwley Yard Cinema
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Tagged Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Barry Lewis, Catford, Future High Street Fund, Lewisham, Liberal Democrats, London, Preston Benson, Really Local Group, Sidcup, Sutton, Sutton Council, Throwley Yard Cinema
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Mum returns to Sutton to launch memoir with charity’s friends
Sutton Library staged a book launch this week where Get on Downs, a parent-led charity, hosts weekly coffee and cake meetings every Wednesday for families with children with Down’s syndrome. Liz Arriens-Troy’s memoir, Everybody Wants a Dance With Coraline, is … Continue reading →
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Posted in Activities, Barry Lewis, Health, Sutton Council
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Tagged Everybody Wants a Dance With Coraline, Liz Arriens-Troy, Sutton, Sutton Library
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Polluting Viridor exposed over nearly 1,000 licence breaches
There must be an election coming, as the LibDems in Sutton finally wake up to the ‘environmental disaster’ that they have inflicted on Beddington, and Croydon, as our investigations editor, CARL SHILTON, reports Twelve years too late, Sutton’s FibDems have … Continue reading →
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Posted in Barry Lewis, Business, Christopher Woolmer, Croydon Council, Environment, Kingston, Merton, Nick Mattey, Spencer Palmer, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator
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Tagged Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Beddington, Beddington incinerator, Beddington Lane, Beddington Lane incinerator, Christopher Woolmer, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dave Tchil, Dave Tchiligirian, DEFRA, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, EA, Environment Agency, Kingston Council, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Merton Council, Nick Mattey, Pollution, Steve Reed OBE, Sutton Council, Viridor, Viridor incinerator
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Moonlighting MPs spend their time helping out Basher Lewis
INSIDE SUTTON: The conflicting demands of being constituency MPs and ward councillors are beginning to take a toll, reports ROSE HILL Residents in Sutton are beginning to ask whether the borough’s two recently elected MPs are serving the public interest, … Continue reading →
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Posted in 2026 council elections, Barry Lewis, Bobby Dean, Carshalton and Wallington, Luke Taylor MP, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council
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Tagged Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Bobby Dean MP, Carshalton and Wallington, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, Luke Taylor MP, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Tory
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Opposition livid as cynical LibDems prompt second by-election
INSIDE SUTTON: Another absentee LibDem councillor has quit, running up costs of an estimated £25,000 for Council Tax-payers Council by-elections in Sutton are getting to be a bit like buses: no sooner has one come along, than another is announced. … Continue reading →
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LibDem Choi holds Sutton Central council seat with 56% of vote
INSIDE SUTTON: Liberal Democrats hail a ‘great result’ in council by-election, as Labour crash from second to fourth, beaten by Reform Choi Ka Yuen, sometimes known as Richard Choi, is Sutton’s newest councillor, the Liberal Democrat holding the Sutton Central … Continue reading →
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Posted in 2026 council elections, Barry Lewis, Sutton Council
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Tagged Barry Lewis, By-election, Choi Ka Yuen, Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Richard Choi, SDEN, Sutton, Sutton Central, Sutton Council, Tory
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‘Suez-gate’: LibDems withhold video ahead of ward by-election
INSIDE SUTTON: Mystery surrounds another missing tape of an important council meeting – coincidentally just as a council by-election is taking place. EXCLUSIVE by BELLE MONT, Political Editor The Liberal Democrats in Sutton have been accused of suppressing an official … Continue reading →
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Posted in Barry Lewis, Helen Bailey, Jayne McCoy, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Foster
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Tagged Barry Lewis, By-election, Choi Ka Yuen, Conservative, David Bartolucci, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Pamela Marsh, Richard Choi, SDEN, Señor Sheldon Vestey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton, Sutton Central, Sutton Council, Tory
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Resident to challenge LibDems in Sutton council by-election
INSIDE SUTTON: April 10 has been set as polling day, with the all-powerful Liberal Democrats picking a leader of the local Hong Kong community as their candidate to replace their absentee former deputy leader. EXCLUSIVE by BELLE MONT, Political Editor … Continue reading →
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Posted in Barry Lewis, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Foster
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Tagged Barry Lewis, Beech Tree Place, By-election, Conservative, David Bartolucci, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Pamela Marsh, Richard Choi, SDEN, Señor Sheldon Vestey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton, Sutton Central, Sutton Council, Tory
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LibDems’ sacked deputy storms out of meeting, and council
INSIDE SUTTON: A council by-election in Sutton Central ward is imminent, following a six-month period when the area’s Liberal Democrat councillor failed to turn up for a single meeting. EXCLUSIVE by BELLE MONT, Political Editor Less than 12 months ago, … Continue reading →
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Sutton Council plans £400 payment hikes for disabled and poor
INSIDE SUTTON: Poor and disabled residents will be forced to pay Council Tax to help the Liberal Democrat-run council balance its budget. EXCLUSIVE by DAVE BURTON A meeting at Sutton Civic Centre tonight will make the first moves towards rubber … Continue reading →
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Posted in Barry Lewis, Council Tax, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Sutton Council
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Tagged Barry Lewis, Conservative, Council Tax, Dave Burton, Jane Pascoe, Liberal Democrats, London, Mayor, Tory
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Throwley Yard Cinema under scrutiny as companies collapse
INSIDE SUTTON: Four sister companies of the firm behind Sutton’s council-backed cinema have gone out of business in quick succession. BERTIE WORCESTER-PARK does what he heard them say in the movies, and follows the money… Though it claims it is … Continue reading →
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Posted in Barry Lewis, Bexley, Business, Cinema, Lewisham, Outside Croydon, Really Local Group, Richard Simpson, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Throwley Yard Cinema
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Tagged Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Barry Lewis, Catford, Future High Street Fund, Lewisham, Liberal Democrats, London, Preston Benson, Really Local Group, Sidcup, Sutton, Sutton Council, Throwley Yard Cinema
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4 Comments
Council Tax proposal to hit Sutton’s disabled and unemployed
Sutton Council is set to introduce measures which will force some of the poorest in the borough, including the disabled and unemployed, to pay Council Tax for the first time. It is an effort by the Liberal Democrat-controlled council under … Continue reading →
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Posted in Adult Social Care, Barry Lewis, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, London Fire Brigade, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Outside Croydon, Policing, Sadiq Khan, Sutton Council
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Tagged Barry 'Basher' Lewis, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, GLA, Greater London Authority, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, London Assembly, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor, Mayor Jason Perry, Metropolitan Police, Rachel Reeves, Sadiq Khan, Sir Sadiq Khan, Sutton Council, Tory
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In Sutton, Mary Poppins better look out when Kingdom comes
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Environment’ officials stopped a bus to issue a penalty notice to an old man for dropping a fag end, when the man is a non-smoker. Among a growing number of complaints include an old lady fined £150 for harmlessly … Continue reading →
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MP hands Westminster job to councillor who donated £3,000
It’s ‘jobs for the boy’ in Sutton, as new LibDem MP Taylor is accused of a stitch-up over the recruitment to a tax-payer-funded staff positon of a chum who made a £3,000 donation to his election campaign. By CARL SHILTON, … Continue reading →
