Category Archives: Ruth Dombey

Crowley joins Beddington Independents for election campaign

INSIDE SUTTON: The former leader of the Conservative group at the Civic Centre has deferred his retirement to help see off challenges from LibDems and Reform, as ROSE HILL reports Tim Crowley, for seven years the leader of the Conservative … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Bobby Dean, Carshalton and Wallington, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Tim Foster | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘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

Posted in Barry Lewis, Helen Bailey, Jayne McCoy, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Foster | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted in Barry Lewis, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Foster | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Barry Lewis, Jayne McCoy, Ruth Dombey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted in Barry Lewis, Bexley, Business, Cinema, Lewisham, Outside Croydon, Really Local Group, Richard Simpson, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Throwley Yard Cinema | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Officials ignore councillors’ calls for action over Farmlands site

IN-DEPTH AND INFORMED: Sutton’s elected councillors, from across the political divide, are being ignored by the council’s senior staff over enforcement action against Valencia over the Beddington Farmlands nature reserve. It couldn’t have anything to do with Valencia providing energy … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Dave Burton, Ed Parsley, Environment, Helen Bailey, London-wide issues, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Foster, Waste incinerator, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sutton’s ex-leader in extraordinary attack on waste company

Valencia Waste Management, owners of Beddington Farmlands former landfill site, are ‘arrogant’ and have no intention of carrying out agreed wildlife restoration, according to LibDem councillor Ruth Dombey A multi-million-pound waste management firm is “running rings” around Sutton Council as … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Environment, Helen Bailey, London-wide issues, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Biggles’ hits turbulence from first day as Sutton council leader

BELLE MONT, Inside Sutton’s answer to Laura Kuenssberg (but with fewer scruples), sat through last night’s ‘mayor-making’ ceremonials so that you didn’t have to, and reports simmering problems for the new council leader and a huge step backwards for Labour … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Bobby Dean, Luke Taylor MP, Ruth Dombey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Berry picks her moment to call time as St Helier West councillor

By BELLE MONT, our Sutton Council correspondent Sheila Berry, one of just three Labour councillors in Sutton, has resigned from the council. Berry was elected in St Helier West ward in May 2022, one of the first three Labour councillors … Continue reading

Posted in Outside Croydon, Ruth Dombey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

LibDems pick failed businessman Biggles as new Sutton leader

Failed businessman Barry “Biggles” Lewis is to be the next leader of Sutton Council, the borough’s Liberal Democrats announced yesterday. Lewis is to replace Ruth Dombey, who is standing down as Sutton’s LibDem leader in May after 12 years in … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Business, Environment, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

LibDem power struggle after Dombey retires as Sutton leader

BELLE MONT on the end of an error at the south-west London council Ruth Dombey, the Liberal Democrat leader of Sutton Council, is standing down from the position in May. Dombey has been leader of the council since 2012, making … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Barry Lewis, Bobby Dean, Outside Croydon, Paul Scully MP, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council’s stalled housing development could cost £50m-plus

A borough council awards a multi-million-pound home-building contract to a firm that has only existed for a couple of years and has no track record of large-scale developments. What could possibly go wrong? CARL SHILTON reports on a repeat of … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Housing, London-wide issues, Planning, Property, Richard Simpson, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Police launch murder hunt after teen killed at Sutton Station

Sutton railway station and Sutton High Street remain closed this morning as the Metropolitan Police conducts “an urgent investigation” following the murder of a 17-year-old boy last night. The victim has not yet been named and no arrests have been … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Knife crime, Policing, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sutton stabbing ‘adds to people’s anxiety’ says council leader

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it is treating the death on Monday night of a man on Typhoon Way, on the Roundshaw estate, as murder. According to a Met spokesperson, “A woman was arrested on suspicion of making threats … Continue reading

Posted in Andy Brittain, Crime, Knife crime, London-wide issues, Policing, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A decade too late, even Sutton’s LibDems now turn on Viridor

No one wants the polluting Beddington incinerator to be allowed to increase its capacity for burning rubbish. So why is the Environment Agency ‘minded’ to approve the application? STEVEN DOWNES reports Tomorrow is the final day for submissions in a … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Business, Croydon Council, Elliot Colburn, Environment, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Planning, Refuse collection, Ruth Dombey, Sadiq Khan, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Investigators apologise after sending reports to wrong person

CARL SHILTON, our Sutton investigations editor, on the latest self-inflicted crisis to hit LibDem council leader Ruth Dombey and her increasingly rattled sidekick Jayne McCoy A director at a company specialising in investigating complaints over the conduct of local authority … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Environment, Jayne McCoy, Marian James, Nick Mattey, Planning, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pro-pollution Dombey re-states Sutton opposition to ULEZ

Environment correspondent PAUL LUSHION on the cynical games being played with people’s lives by some of the capital’s third-rate politicians Ruth Dombey, the leader of LibDem-controlled Sutton, today declared war on ULEZ, warning Mayor of London Sadiq Khan that she … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Environment, Health, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Ruth Dombey, Sadiq Khan, Surrey, Sutton Council, ULEZ expansion, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sutton’s 40-page emissions report fails to mention incinerator

Our environment correspondent, PAUL LUSHION, on the most ridiculous claims made yet by the Liberal Democrat-controlled council There is a meeting tonight in Sutton of the council’s environment and sustainable transport committee. And, along with Ruth Dombey, the LibDem-controlled council … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Elliot Colburn, Environment, Helen Bailey, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Client councils are failing to hold polluting Viridor in check

Our environment correspondent, PAUL LUSHION, on the feeble opposition from south London boroughs to the Beddington incinerator creating even more toxic pollution The South London Waste Partnership, the arm’s-length, unelected and unaccountable quango formed by Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Business, Croydon Council, Elliot Colburn, Environment, Mayor Jason Perry, Refuse collection, Ruth Dombey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bailey holds urgent talks seeking Viridor bail-out for SDEN

Our environment correspondent, PAUL LUSHION, on the backroom deals that have been going on to try to salvage Sutton Council’s struggling heat network business Helen Bailey, the chief exec at Liberal Democrat-controlled Sutton, has been holding emergency talks with incinerator … Continue reading

Posted in Bobby Dean, Business, Croydon Council, Environment, Helen Bailey, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Refuse collection, Ruth Dombey, Shasha Khan, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

LibDems refuse council debate on £44m Beech Tree money pit

Ruth Dombey’s LibDems in Sutton are refusing to discuss a council development project which has already gone £14million over budget before a single brick has been laid. Sutton wants to bulldoze 25 council homes on Beech Tree Place in the … Continue reading

Posted in Housing, Richard Simpson, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Covid outbreak forces LibDems to postpone council meeting

CARL SHILTON on the latest accusations of stunts and mistrust on Sutton Council, where the ruling group fears losing key votes Sutton’s Liberal Democrats last night postponed a scheduled meeting of the full council, in a move suspected to have … Continue reading

Posted in Bobby Dean, Health, Helen Bailey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dombey’s dodgy LibDems’ handbrake turn over dirty diesel

Viridor and Ruth Dombey’s dodgy Liberal Democrats are so worried about the latest attempts to increase the volume of rubbish burned at the Beddington Lane incinerator, and the use of vast amounts of dirty diesel to do so, that they … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Environment, Helen Bailey, Nick Mattey, Refuse collection, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments