Category Archives: Tom Drummond

#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

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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 32 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

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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 47 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

Now ‘Basher’ Lewis knocks out debate on polluting incinerator

The Viridor waste incinerator at Beddington Lane has broken the terms of its operating licence 60 times. But Sutton’s LibDems refuse to discuss the matter, as BERTIE WOOSTER-PARK reports Barry “Basher” Lewis, the leader of Liberal Democrat-run Sutton, this week … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Bobby Dean, Carshalton and Wallington, Environment, Helen Bailey, Luke Taylor MP, Nick Mattey, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tory Colburn’s fate as Carshalton MP was sealed long ago

BELLE MONT, InsideSutton’s political editor, on how time finally ran out for the Tories in the General Election campaign in Carshalton and Wallington When the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both moved most of their campaign resources into Sutton and Cheam … Continue reading

Posted in Bobby Dean, Carshalton and Wallington, Elliot Colburn, Luke Taylor MP, Paul Burstow MP, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Tom Brake MP, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reform hand LibDems complete control across Sutton borough

The story of election night was how Reform UK denied Conservatives seat wins across the country, even with absentee candidates, including in Sutton and Cheam. BERTIE WORCESTER-PARK reports The final Survation prediction for the Sutton and Cheam constituency was rubbish. … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Bobby Dean, Carshalton and Wallington, David Campanale, Elliot Colburn, Luke Taylor MP, Outside Croydon, Paul Scully MP, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Tom Brake MP, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

LibDem Taylor rattled as questions of religion won’t go away

Hustings? What hustings? Across the two constituencies in Sutton, there has been only one public meeting organised ahead of Thursday’s General Election, in the hotly-contested Sutton and Cheam constituency, where it all kicked off when someone posed a question of … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Carshalton and Wallington, David Campanale, Elliot Colburn, London-wide issues, Luke Taylor MP, Outside Croydon, Paul Scully MP, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reigate, Kingston, Sutton: the seats facing ‘The Croydon Effect’

In the second part of our General Election Special, WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, casts his expert eye further afield, to Sutton and Bromley, and even into the Surrey stockbroker belt Compared with Croydon, it’s an entirely different political landscape in … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Bobby Dean, Bromley Council, Chrishni Reshekaron, David Campanale, Elliot Colburn, Kingston, Luke Taylor MP, Mario Creatura, Paul Scully MP, Reigate and Banstead Council, Sutton and Cheam, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘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

LibDems cancel Sutton selection meeting after ‘complaints’

Campaigning in what ought to be a ‘winnable’ parliamentary seat has been dogged by controversies and challenges, reports BELLE MONT With a General Election getting ever closer, the Liberal Democrats, already in complete disarray over who should be their candidate … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, 2024 London elections, London-wide issues, Luke Taylor MP, Mayor of London, Outside Croydon, Paul Scully MP, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tories relieved as LibDems opt for lightweights in Sutton

The Liberal Democrats may have managed to hand the hotly contested Sutton and Cheam parliamentary seat to the Conservatives already with their short-of-talent candidate shortlist, reports BELLE MONT Imagine the embarrassment for former BBC reporter John “Foghorn” Sweeney: all those … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, London-wide issues, Luke Taylor MP, Mayor of London, Outside Croydon, Paul Scully MP, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ex-BBC broadcaster in running for Sutton LibDem selection

BELLE MONT, our Sutton political editor, on a selection race that might make the TV news Former BBC Panorama and Newsnight reporter John Sweeney – known, unaffectionately, as “Foghorn” by the wags at Private Eye – is among the applicants … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, London-wide issues, Paul Scully MP, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tories pick Drummond to defend Sutton and Cheam seat

By our Sutton political editor, BELLE MONT Councillor Tom Drummond, the leader of the Conservative opposition group on Sutton Council, was last night selected to replace MP Paul Scully as the Tories’ candidate in Sutton and Cheam in the upcoming … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, London-wide issues, Paul Burstow MP, Paul Scully MP, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sordid spat leads to Sutton Tory councillor’s suspension

EXCLUSIVE: Amid allegations of racism, harassment and Islamophobia, a sordid little spat between two elected councillors has ended up with one (brief) suspension, another councillor’s resignation and a lengthy rant on social media that failed to give the whole story. … Continue reading

Posted in Paul Scully MP, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Drummond heads three-strong Tory list for Sutton and Cheam

EXCLUSIVE: Our investigations editor CARL SHILTON on the race in the Tory Party to replace Paul Scully as MP Councillor Tom Drummond, the leader of the Conservatives on Sutton Council, heads a three-person selection shortlist for the constituency where his … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Chipstead, Elliot Colburn, Paul Scully MP, Reigate and Banstead Council, Surrey, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

After ‘el bow’, MP Scully takes aim at Conservatives’ ‘bell-ends’

By our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE Paul Scully, the Conservative MP for Sutton and Cheam, won’t be standing at the next General Election. In a lengthy social media posting this morning, Scully accused the Tory Party of being “fuelled by … Continue reading

Posted in London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Paul Scully MP, Sadiq Khan, Susan Hall, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 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

Dodgy Dombey’s ‘squalid and disgraceful’ committees stitch-up

On Sutton Council, the opposition groups are fighting for fair representation as the Liberal Democrats, after winning just 53% of council seats, want to instal themselves in more than 60% of committee places. Ahead of tonight’s first meeting of the … Continue reading

Posted in Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 MP, Marian James, Neil Garratt, Nick Mattey, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Tom Drummond, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Boris Johnson wrecks Sutton Tory hopes with hospital pass

Our Sutton reporter, BERTIE WORCESTER-PARK, sifts through the election offering on the other side of the borough boundary Thursday is election day on the other side of the borough’s boundaries, in Lambeth and Southwark, in Merton and Bromley, and in … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Environment, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond, Veolia, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a 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

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

Opposition renews call for full-scale fraud probe into SDEN

Independent review finds that the loss-making, council-owned district heating network has less of a business case, and is more of a basket case, reports CARL SHILTON Richard Simpson, the senior council official who helped unleash the £200million disaster that is … Continue reading

Posted in Helen Bailey, Jayne McCoy, Nick Mattey, Richard Simpson, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, 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