Category Archives: Neil Garratt

The shifts below the waterline that require action from all sides

ANDREW FISHER takes a look behind the numbers from Thursday’s election and finds lessons for Labour as well as the Tories For all the “excitement” of Thursday’s elections, nothing much changed for Croydon. Labour’s Sadiq Khan remains London Mayor, Conservative … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Andrew Fisher, Ben Taylor, Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon South, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Natasha Irons, Neil Garratt, Sadiq Khan, Susan Hall | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

In Croydon, Labour’s toxic track record makes it ‘no Khan-do’

After another two-day election count and too many coffees, political editor WALTER CRONXITE sifts through the detritus of Croydon and Sutton’s part in the 2024 London elections Not for the first time, Croydon kept London waiting. It was getting on … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Elly Baker, Hina Bokhari, Katherine Kerswell, Ken Livingstone, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Maddie Henson, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Sadiq Khan, Susan Hall, Sutton Council, ULEZ, ULEZ expansion, Zoe Garbett | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

May 2’s election day will show how bad things are for Tories

With two weeks to go, ANDREW FISHER focuses in on your three, or four, votes in Croydon. PLUS: how you can make sure you have proper photo ID for election day Every Croydon voter will have at least three votes … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Andrew Fisher, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Maddie Henson, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Park Hill and Whitgift, Sadiq Khan, Susan Hall, Sutton Council, ULEZ, ULEZ expansion, Woodside, Zoe Garbett | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

LibDems and Tories name candidates for St Helier West ballot

Our Sutton reporter, ROSE HILL, on the latest wanabees announced for the council by-election on May 2 They may have been left flat-footed by the near-deadline-day resignation of Labour councillor Sheila Berry, but Sutton’s Tories and LibDems have managed to … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Catherine Gray, Neil Garratt, Sheldon Vestey, St Helier Hospital, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anonyvoter’s co-owner wins Labour vote held on Anonyvoter

Loyal member of ‘Newman’s Numpties’ is declared the selection winner less than half-an-hour after online voting deadline. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The candidate selected by Labour to stand in Croydon and Sutton at May’s GLA elections had their name on … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Addiscombe East, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Maddie Henson, Neil Garratt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

How TfL’s changes to 10 Croydon bus routes will affect you

There’s major changes coming to 10 bus routes serving the south of Croydon, including Purley, Coulsdon, Kenley and South Croydon, as well as Sutton and Wallington, coming into effect on Saturday March 2. Here’s TfL’s blow-by-blow breakdown of their bus … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, Croydon Council, Environment, KENDRA, Kenley, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Purley, Purley Way, Schools, South Croydon, Sutton Council, TfL, Transport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Goodbye Route 455… it’s been a long, long journey. Too long

EXCLUSIVE: There’s more than a touch of an old Morecambe and Wise gag about the extensive changes to 10 bus routes in Croydon and Sutton: ‘TfL has chosen all the right routes, just not the right roads’. By JEREMY CLACKSON, … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, Croydon Council, Environment, KENDRA, Kenley, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Purley, Purley Way, Schools, South Croydon, Sutton Council, TfL, Transport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

100 days to go: the Count Binface campaign begins in earnest

Today marks 100 days until the London elections on May 2, when Londoners are supposed to go to the polls to elect the Mayor of London and 25 London Assembly Members. So expect a lot more gurning selfies from wannabe … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Sadiq Khan, Susan Hall | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mayor Khan delivers another TfL fares freeze through to 2025

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is freezing all fares on Transport for London services until 2025, City Hall announced this morning. Mayor Khan’s office says people could save up to £90 a year under the plans, part of a £123million investment … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Boris Johnson, Caroline Pidgeon, Commuting, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Sadiq Khan, Susan Hall, TfL, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Newman Numpty Henson allowed to run for Assembly selection

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the deeply underwhelming line-up being presented belatedly for Labour members in Croydon and Sutton from which to choose their candidate in next May’s London elections The Blairite apparatchiks in charge of the Labour Party in … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Addiscombe East, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Maddie Henson, Mayor of London, Merton, Neil Garratt, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Underwood makes the ‘Green slate’ of candidates for London

Peter Underwood has been selected as the Green Party’s candidate for the Croydon and Sutton super-constituency at next May’s London Assembly elections. Underwood stood for the Green Party in last year’s Croydon Mayor contest, and has been a regular on … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Croydon Greens, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Peter Underwood, Ria Patel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perry left pot-less after failed bid for £20m levelling up money

Our Town Hall staff reporter, PEARL LEE, on the latest disappointing set-back for the Conservative Mayor Despite growing social deprivation in the borough and its failing town centre economy, Croydon has failed in its bid for £20million of Levelling Up … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Neil Garratt, Paul Scully MP, Section 114 notice, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Part-time Perry is fiddling over ULEZ while Croydon burns

In the middle of the hottest and driest summer on record, Jason Perry, Chris Philp and south London Tories are opposing measures to address the climate crisis. By our environment correspondent, PAUL LUSHION Jason Perry, Croydon’s part-time Mayor, has made … Continue reading

Posted in Boris Johnson, Business, Chris Philp MP, Climate Crisis Commission, Commuting, Croydon Council, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Sadiq Khan, TfL, Transport, ULEZ, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Dombey survives but Sutton results leave LibDems scarred

CARL SHILTON at the election count reports on how senior Liberal Democrats lost their council positions while their party clung on to power, as Labour won their first seats for 20 years The election fight in Sutton turned feral as … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Catherine Gray, Jayne McCoy, Jenny Batt, Luke Taylor, Marian James, Neil Garratt, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Tom Drummond, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Half of Sutton LibDem councillors quitting at May’s elections

Defending the indefensible, whether it is the dodgy deals over the council’s SDEN heat network, the appalling treatment of families with SEND children, or some of the ruling group’s more under-hand conduct, has taken its toll, writes our Civic Offices … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Catherine Gray, Charlie Mansell, Elliot Colburn, Jayne McCoy, Jenny Batt, Neil Garratt, Nick Mattey, Outside Croydon, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council planners urge developer to pre-empt Local Plan

It isn’t only over suburban blocks of flats that the council planning department appears to work against the interests of the residents they are supposed to serve. Housing correspondent BARRATT HOLMES reveals how officials have been persuading one developer to … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Croydon South, Environment, Heather Cheesbrough, Housing, Joy Prince, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Planning, Property, Purley Way, Purley Way Lido, Robert Canning, Sadiq Khan, Waddon, Wing Yip | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mayor Khan settles in for the long-haul and a third term

Sadiq Khan wants to be London’s first three-term Mayor. Khan was first elected as London’s Mayor in 2016,  succeeding Boris Johnson. Johnson, like Ken Livingstone before him, the capital’s first Mayor, had served two four-year terms. Now Khan, who was … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Sadiq Khan, Zac Goldsmith MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Croydon 2021: Where Eagles care and people power takes hold

DID WE HAVE NEWS FOR YOU: In the second part of our review of the year, loyal readers step up to report raptor sightings, there’s the retirement of a much-admired Palace manager, worrying election results for Labour and the council … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Crystal Palace FC, Environment, Housing, Inside Croydon, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, New Addington North, Patsy Cummings, Planning, Roy Hodgson, Sadiq Khan, Simon Hall, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Wildlife, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bailey under fire for staging his own illegal Tory Party party

Questions are being asked about which Croydon and Sutton Conservatives attended their mayoral candidate’s lockdown-busting ‘raucous’ Christmas shin-dig. By WALTER CRONXITE There have been calls for Shaun Bailey to resign as chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Neil Garratt, Policing, Shaun Bailey | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Man behind failing SDEN’s plan is re-hired on £800 per day

EXCLUSIVE: LibDem-controlled council accused of ‘double dipping’ after it reveals it ‘won’ £310,000 grant to fund work on extending its misfiring heating network… even though that work has already been completed. CARL SHILTON, investigations editor, reports Last week, Sutton Council … Continue reading

Posted in Jayne McCoy, Neil Garratt, Niall Bolger, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sutton’s Simpson show can’t account for £2m SDEN subsidy

‘I can’t give you a guarantee there is no fraud’ – the words of an independent accountancy official at a meeting this week caused further dismay to Sutton’s ruling LibDems amid the growing controversy of their loss-making heat network. CARL … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Elliot Colburn, Environment, Helen Bailey, Jayne McCoy, Neil Garratt, Nick Mattey, Richard Simpson, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sutton chiefs block opposition from seeing fraud report

Our Sutton investigations editor, CARL SHILTON, on the latest strokes being pulled by the LibDem-controlled council Tonight, there is a meeting of the Sutton Shareholdings Board, the committee that exercises the corporate shareholder and governance responsibilities of Sutton Council’s privately-held … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Helen Bailey, Jayne McCoy, Neil Garratt, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Tom Drummond, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Garratt doubles victory margin as he takes City Hall seat

NOT-SO-SPECIAL ELECTION SPECIAL: Labour has slipped back in the London Assembly voting, with its worst result in Croydon and Sutton for 13 years. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Neil “Father Jack” Garratt was named on Saturday as Croydon and Sutton’s … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Marina Ahmad, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, South Norwood, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tories are tipped to cling on to Croydon and Sutton seat

NOT-SO-SPECIAL ELECTION SPECIAL: With just hours to go before the polling stations open, WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, offers some important advice to make  sure that your votes count After a turgid campaign that has lasted, off and on because … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Croydon Greens, Kenley, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, New Addington North, Park Hill and Whitgift, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, South Norwood, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tory Assembly candidate in racism row over stop and search

Election candidates have not been subject to the kind of public scrutiny they might have expected pre-covid, and online hustings last week demonstrated why such questioning is so necessary. By STEVEN DOWNES Neil “Father Jack” Garratt, the Conservative candidate for … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Crime, Knife crime, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Policing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment