Category Archives: Sara Bashford

Tories’ reward for failure: ex-MP Barwell gets £31,000 pay hike

A 22% pay rise, plus winding-up expenses, jobs for the boys (and girl), resettlement grants and a very generous redundancy package means that one Croydon Conservative has never had it so good. And all at your expense, as WALTER CRONXITE … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Nero Ughwujabo, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Senior Tory councillor quits Town Hall but keeps it all quiet

KEN LEE, our Town Hall reporter, on the disappearing act performed by one of the local Tories’ former leading lights Unannounced at the Town Hall, and unmentioned to the people of Selsdon and Ballards ward she was supposed to be … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Dudley Mead, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Ex-teaching assistant Bashford lands Cabinet Office job

Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on the Croydon councillor who has risen without trace Anyone who aspires to this country being run by anything that might resemble a meritocracy may be saddened to learn that the “politically restricted” job which … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Vast majority of Croydon Tories (about a dozen) vote Perry

Jason Perry has been elected overwhelmingly to be the new deputy leader of Croydon Conservatives. When we say “elected overwhelmingly”, we mean just by Tory councillors. A maximum of 29 of them. That’s because Sara Bashford has now got a … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Dudley Mead, Fairfield, Jason Perry, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, South Croydon, Sue Winborn, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon Tories take their revenge on Fisher over #WadGate

There was blood on the shag pile at Croydon Tory HQ over selections for next May’s local elections. Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports on the high casualty rate among some of the council’s one-time big beasts Mike Fisher, until 2014 … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Chris Wright, Coulsdon East, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Heathfield, James Thompson, Margaret Mead, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Purley, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards, Shirley North, Sue Winborn, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tories pick B-List election candidate. And fail to announce it

Shhh! Don’t tell anyone, but there is a Conservative candidate for the council by-election, as WALTER CRONXITE reports Croydon Conservatives have chosen their candidate to stand in the South Norwood council by-election on September 7. It is to be Rebecca … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon North, Jason Cummings, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Sara Bashford, South Norwood, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Croydon Tories’ leadership abandon hope with their B listers

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, has obtained a copy of a Croydon Conservatives internal document which shows their north-south divide of the borough when it comes to picking candidates for next year’s council elections Whoever Croydon Conservatives select to contest … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Addiscombe West, Ashburton, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Jason Cummings, Mario Creatura, New Addington, Sara Bashford, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Westfield delaying while they seek key deal with John Lewis

EXCLUSIVE: Our retailing correspondent, M.T. WALLETTE, reports on the Godot-like wait for an anchor tenant for Hammersfield’s not-so-supermall Westfield have delayed re-submitting their plans for the £1.4billion redevelopment of the town centre and Whitgift Centre because are they are still … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2018 council elections, Alison Butler, Boris Johnson, Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Jo Negrini, Planning, Property, Sara Bashford, Sarah Jones MP, Tony Newman, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Barwell says £1.5m to save lives on our roads is ‘wasteful’

KEN LEE, our south of the borough correspondent, reports on the latest not-very-bright piece of opposition-for-opposition’s sake dreamt up by the local Conservatives The latest exercise in political point-scoring from Croydon’s Tories, including gaffe-prone Gavin Barwell, could put children’s lives … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Croydon Council, Environment, Gavin Barwell, Policing, Sara Bashford, Stuart King, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tories agree: Labour’s Fairfield deal looking good for Croydon

WALTER CRONXITE on an outbreak of consensus and agreement for the future of the borough Tory councillors’ “opposition for opposition’s sake” approach to the £30million refurbishment of the Fairfield Halls crumbled amid commonsense, the best interests of the borough and … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Helen Pollard, Mario Creatura, Sara Bashford, Sean Fitzsimons, Theatre | Leave a comment

Coulsdon’s Carservatives declare: ‘Carry on Speeding’

The Tories in Coulsdon have formed an unholy alliance with a car campaigner whose extreme conduct even saw him kicked out of UKIP. Our transport correspondent JEREMY CLACKSON reports The leadership of the Croydon Conservatives has been issuing post-truth emails … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon Council, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Environment, Mario Creatura, Policing, Purley, Sara Bashford, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Newman’s time for change as he faces threat of ‘dead sheep’

WALTER CRONXITE on the ins and outs of the latest council “non-reshuffles”, and how the the spectre of #WadGate and others’ past crimes still stalk the Town Hall’s corridors of (not much) power “They used to say that being attacked … Continue reading

Posted in 2016 London elections, 2018 council elections, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Dudley Mead, Hamida Ali, Heathfield, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, London Assembly, Margaret Mead, Mark Watson, Matthew Kyeremeh, Mike Fisher, Pat Ryan, Paul Scott, Planning, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards, Steve O'Connell, Stuart Collins, Thornton Heath, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Whitgift Foundation, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Never mind the bollocks, here’s the Croydon Conservatives

It’s been Anarchy in the Town Hall this week, as our Tory councillors have been channelling their inner Johnny Rottens. WALTER CRONXITE suggests that such cunning stunts fail to serve their residents So who lost out from the decision of … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher, Patricia Hay-Justice, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Jobs for the old boys as Barwell post goes to Hammersmith

Croydon Central’s Conservative MP Gavin Barwell has appointed a former “hobby bobby”, John Hammersmith, as his new parliamentary assistant at the House of Commons. Hammersmith attended Whitgift School. Until very recently, Barwell sat on the board of governors of the … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Coulsdon West, Crime, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Jason Cummings, Mario Creatura, Policing, Sara Bashford, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

96 days to go and councillors’ self-interest is showing

Have you had someone with a rosette knock at your door yet? You will, says WALTER CRONXITE, you will. Though how the tax-payers of Croydon will benefit from one of the longest election campaigns in history is questionable Fed up … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Addiscombe West, Chris Wright, Croydon Central, Dudley Mead, Eddy Arram, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, Jan Buttinger, Jason Cummings, Jason Perry, Louisa Woodley, Maggie Mansell, Malcolm Wicks MP, Margaret Mead, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Mark Watson, Patricia Hay-Justice, Robert Canning, Sara Bashford, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Hollands, Tim Pollard, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman, Wayne Lawlor, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Barwell’s aide attacks Labour for implementing Tory policies

Those members of Croydon Conservatives who have privately expressed concerns about their party’s new leadership at the Town Hall had their doubts firmly underlined this morning when Sara Bashford made the political error of publishing her innermost thoughts about the … Continue reading

Posted in Gavin Barwell, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards, Tim Pollard, Waste incinerator | 3 Comments

Own goals galore scored on Croydon’s school playing fields

WALTER CRONXITE recounts the unedifying clusterfuck that has engulfed the Labour-run council over its development plans. Which they say that they don’t have Croydon’s Conservative councillors are predicting that Simon Hall’s days as a member of Labour’s front-bench team are … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Alisa Flemming, Croydon Council, Environment, Heathfield, Jason Cummings, Julie Belvir, Maria Gatland, Nathan Elvery, Phil Thomas, Planning, Sara Bashford, Schools, Shasha Khan, Simon Hall, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Foundation, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Calls for auditor to investigate old Ashburton Library sale

There are calls for the deal to sell the council-owned old Ashburton Library at a “discount” of more than £400,000 to be referred to the district auditor for investigation, after the aborted sale was the subject of further acrimonious exchanges … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Addiscombe West, Andrew Rendle, Ashburton, Church and religions, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Maddie Henson, Mike Fisher, Property, Sara Bashford, Stephen Mann, Timothy Godfrey, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

UKIP’s McKenzie goes hurtling towards a speed bump

AUSTEN COOPER, of the Croydon Cycling Campaign, is familiar with handlebars, and also Twitter handles. And yesterday he noticed something suspicious as some in UKIP decided to attack road safety measures that are proven to save lives Something out of … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, Coulsdon, Croydon Cycling Campaign, Cycling, Health, London-wide issues, Parking, Sara Bashford, Transport, Winston McKenzie | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

“Book Token” promoted as Pollard completes Tory takeover

Croydon’s Tory councillors yesterday duly anointed Tim Pollard, the “loyal deputy” who did just enough to cause the downfall of Mike Fisher over #WadGate, as their new leader. With no one else from the 30-strong group of Conservative councillors prepared … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, David Osland, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Libraries, Mike Fisher, Richard Ottaway MP, Sara Bashford, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Barwell claims Labour knew about #WadGate for months

Tony Newman, the Labour leader on Croydon Council, knew all about the back-pay claim of his Tory opposite number Mike Fisher for at least three months, a local MP claimed today. Fisher, for eight years the leader of the council … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Nathan Elvery, Sara Bashford, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

#WadGate: The questions that Barwell has failed to answer

STEVEN DOWNES, editor of Inside Croydon, on how a local MP has been working furiously to save his own political skin So, the Tory narrative on #WadGate has been set. “It’s all Mike Fisher’s fault. He is terribly sorry. And … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Julie Belvir, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Sara Bashford, Shirley North, Simon Hoar, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

#WadGate latest: Fisher’s deputies put pressure on him to go

WALTER CRONXITE reports on how the Town Hall allowances scandal does not reflect well on councillors of either of the political parties Say what you like about George Galloway (keep it polite, please), but he does have one phrase which … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher, Sara Bashford, Shirley North, Steve Reed MP, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

And they’re off! Betting hots up on Croydon’s Tory leadership

Sources on Katharine Street have told Inside Croydon that bets are already being laid as to who will be the next leader of the Conservative group on Croydon Council. It seems odds-on that Mike Fisher will stand down as the … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mayor has to apologise as Crapita draws a blank for public

Virtually the first thing which Croydon’s new mayor, Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed, was forced to do on taking office last night was to apologise to around two dozen members of the public because of the latest embarrassing council technology short-coming caused … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, Addiscombe West, Bernard Weatherill House, Broad Green, Capita, Charity, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Libraries, Manju Shahul Hameed, Margaret Mead, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Patricia Hay-Justice, Sara Bashford, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, URV, Waste incinerator, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments