Category Archives: Mike Fisher

Mayor Perry: ‘It’s going to get worse before it gets better’

CROYDON IN CRISIS: It didn’t take very long once he became Croydon’s first executive Mayor after telling the electorate that he had a plan, that Jason Perry was forced to admit that he never had a plan at all. By … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Brick by Brick, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Fisher, Section 114 notice, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Croydon needs deal that could set precedent for all councils

CROYDON IN CRISIS: A government-appointed inspector, council directors and senior councillors all agree that throwing millions more at the cash-strapped council won’t fix its deep-seated problems. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The Tories who control Croydon Town Hall have already done … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Fisher, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Pollard’s manifesto makes election a question of honesty

ELECTION COUNTDOWN: Four years ago, the Conservatives in Croydon demonstrated their contempt for the electorate by not even bothering with a manifesto. This time round, as political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports, what they have produced is simply not very credible … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2018 council elections, Alison Butler, Bernard Weatherill House, Boxpark, Brick by Brick, Carillion, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Croydon Council, Housing, Jason Perry, Libraries, Maria Gatland, Michael Neal, Mike Fisher, Paul Scott, Planning, Purley, Shirley North, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tories accused of breaking their own rules over selections

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on complaints of undemocratic interference in the candidate selection process, and too much influence from the local party leader in those allowed to stand in May’s Town Hall elections At least four of Croydon’s longest serving … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Chris Wright, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Fairfield, Helen Pollard, Ian Parker, Mike Fisher, Purley, Shirley North, Steve Hollands, Sue Winborn, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon’s leadership may be resigned to change at the top

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, on last night’s potentially defining meeting of the council The body language spoke volumes. There, sitting behind council leader Tony Newman, the Labour councillors’ heads were down, the arms folded. Facing unremitting questioning after Ofsted … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Barbara Peacock, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 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

#WadGate II, the sequel: Tory Fisher hasn’t paid back a penny

Three years on from #WadGate, the Town Hall allowances scandal which brought down the leader of the Croydon Conservatives, and Mike Fisher has not paid back a penny of the public money that he paid himself secretly in his final … Continue reading

Posted in 2017 General Election, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Balancing the books allows Labour to invest in Croydon

BUDGET COMMENTARY: With the council’s books balanced, a government-approved increase in Council Tax and front-line services being maintained by the Labour council, it is little wonder that the local Tories have so little to offer, writes Councillor ANDREW PELLING Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Fly tipping, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Shirley North, Simon Hall, Tony Newman, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Croydon’s silly season stats which do not stand up to scrutiny

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The infamous maxim that if you repeat a lie often enough it becomes the truth has flourished in Croydon this week. STEVEN DOWNES is just glad the silly season is over Thank goodness it’s September. I wouldn’t usually … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Advertiser, Croydon Council, Evening Boris, Jon Rouse, Mayor of London, Mike Fisher, Sadiq Khan, Steve O'Connell, Tech City, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

#WadGate Fisher gets rejected again, this time in Bromley

“Whatever happened to Mike Fisher?” no one at Inside Croydon Towers has ever asked. Fisher was the leader of Croydon Conservatives who mismanaged the council for eight years, until he was caught with his hand in the Town Hall cookie … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, 2016 London elections, Bromley Council, Croydon Council, Croydon South, London Assembly, Mike Fisher, Shirley North, Steve O'Connell | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

As Newman ‘celebrates’, Whitgift workers fret over future

The £1bn Hammersfield supermall may prove to be regenerative for Croydon’s economy. Once it is built. But as STEVEN DOWNES reports, uncertainty over development timescales is blighting existing businesses The start of building work on the redevelopment of Croydon town … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2018 council elections, Allders, Boris Johnson, Boxpark, Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Jo Negrini, John Burton, Mayor of London, Mike Fisher, Parking, Planning, Property, Richard Chatterjee, Shirley North, Tony Newman, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Bogus Barwell’s donors include exiled oligarch and NHS seller

Having flagged up Bogus Barwell, the millionaire developers’ best mate, news reaches us of the donors who have contributed thousands of pounds to his “Don’t Mention the Tories” campaign to hang on to his parliamentary seat in Croydon Central. These … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2015 General Election, Business, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, John Burton, Mike Fisher, Property, Sarah Jones MP, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tory supporter’s racist tweet Piles on Barwell’s campaign pain

With each passing day, it becomes ever more clear that Croydon’s Tories will accept the support of anyone, regardless of their attitudes towards employment law, or their blatant racism. On Thursday, Inside Croydon reported how Gavin Barwell, the erstwhile MP … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher, Selsdon & Ballards, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Mystery over negative campaigning on the Purley Way

An urgent police investigation is underway in Croydon after there was an outbreak of dirty campaigning ahead of next month’s General Election. The politically inspired graffiti, pictured right, appeared on a blank advertising hoarding at the junction of Croydon Road … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher, Sarah Jones MP, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Council calls in Ronald McDonald to help pay off £144m bill

It would be a cheap shot to suggest that Fisher’s Folly is run by a bunch of clowns. But Ronald McDonald has registered a presence recently in Croydon Council’s £144 million headquarters building. Desperate to rake back some of the … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Business, Croydon Council, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tory councillors warned over failure to pay party levy

Croydon’s Tory group on the council is feeling the financial pressure, and some elected councillors have been issued with warnings by local Conservative officials after failing to make payments from their council allowances into the campaign fund being used to … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Chris Wright, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Council meeting goes through the motions as a costly joke

WALTER CRONXITE, our man watching the webcast with a Yorkie bar and  a cup of strong black coffee, calls for another reform of Croydon Council: scrap meetings of the full council. They’re a complete waste of time and public money, … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Julie Belvir, Kenley, Lynne Hale, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Phil Thomas, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Ottaway MP, Sanderstead, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Foundation, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

POLL: Back our scheme to save Purley Pool – permanently

FLIP FLOP (Part 94): Purley Pool has been given a reprieve, of sorts. Following an announcement this morning by Tony Newman, the council leader, the only public swimming pool serving a vast catchment area in the south of the borough … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Fusion, Leisure services, Mike Fisher, Planning, Purley Pool, Swimming, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Eye! Eye! Council offices’ £144m cost is attracting attention

Not for the first time, a scandal involving Croydon Council has attracted the attention of the scurrilous satirical magazine, Private Eye, when the local mainstream media has kept well clear of the story. Presumably, the Sadvertiser doesn’t think that an … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Planning, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Report covers up council’s role in #WadGate scandal

Croydon Council has overseen a cover-up of the role of senior public officials in the #WadGate scandal, in which over the course of a year the now former council leader, Mike Fisher, was allowed to trouser an extra £13,000 of … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Julie Belvir, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Shirley North, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Terry & June, the sequel: His and Her MBEs

As it’s the pantomime season, Inside Croydon is proud to present a special Croydon-themed show, not featuring Gareth Gates and unlikely to be performed at the Fairfield Halls any time soon, but starring Croydon’s First Couple, Dudley and Margaret Mead … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Fairfield Halls, Gavin Barwell, Heathfield, London Mozart Players, Margaret Mead, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Planning, Theatre, Tony Newman, URV, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon council offices cost more to build than The Shard

Fisher’s Folly, the glass palace that is our council’s headquarters which opened just over a year ago and which cost the borough’s Council Tax-payers’ £144 million, was more expensive to build than The Shard. That’s the conclusion reached by a … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Business, Croydon Council, Housing, Jon Rouse, Leisure services, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Planning, Property, Taberner House, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments