Category Archives: Patsy Cummings

‘Grand National’-sized field in the running for Croydon East

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on the short memories and absence of shame among Newman’s numpties seeking selection for ‘higher’ office Boris Johnson is not the only politician with no shame. One of the numptiest of Newman’s numpties, Manju Shahul-Hameed, continues … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Amy Foster, Chrishni Reshekaron, Croydon Central, Croydon East, David Evans, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Olga Fitzroy, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Sarah Jones MP, Sherwan Chowdhury, Stella Nabukeera, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jewitt sacked while Newman Numpties scramble back to power

CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Lazy’ Clive Fraser and Sean Fitzsimons, long-time loyal supporters of the Labour leadership which crashed the council’s finances, did not have to wait too long before being handed jobs under new(ish) leader Stuart King. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Amy Foster, Brigitte Graham, Christopher Herman, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Karen Jewitt, Leila Ben-Hassel, Louis Carserides, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, Patsy Cummings, Sean Fitzsimons, Simon Hall, Steve Reed MP, Stuart King, Tony Newman, Tony Pearson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

And here are the Labour councillors who broke their word over the 15% tax hike and abandoned the people of Croydon

STUART KING. Leader of the opposition Councillor King took over as Labour group leader in May 2022. Had spent previous eight years mostly holding senior positions, including cabinet posts, in the Labour council administration of Tony Newman, Alison Butler and … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Amy Foster, Brigitte Graham, Callton Young, Catherine Wilson, Chris Clark, Chrishni Reshekaron, Christopher Herman, Clive Fraser, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Enid Mollyneaux, Humayun Kabir, Humayun Kabir, Janet Campbell, Karen Jewitt, Kola Agboola, Leila Ben-Hassel, Louis Carserides, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, Mohammed Islam, Nina Degrads, Patricia Hay-Justice, Patsy Cummings, Sean Fitzsimons, Sherwan Chowdhury, Stella Nabukeera, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Tamar Nwafor, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

King ends front-bench sinecures for most Newman numpties

CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: Starmer and Evans are using this borough as an experiment in central party control over rogue councils. By our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE And there you have it. The 2022 local government definition of a non-job, … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Brigitte Graham, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Chrishni Reshekaron, Enid Mollyneaux, Janet Campbell, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, Nina Degrads, Patricia Hay-Justice, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Planning, Steve Reed MP, Stuart King, Tony Newman, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘It’s an utter joke’: councillors unhappy at selection stitch-ups

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, reports on the brinkmanship taking place in the local Labour Party over controversial reselections With just seven days left before the official opening of nominations for all candidates for the local elections, there remain two … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, David Evans, Hamida Ali, Maddie Henson, Muhammad Ali, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Waddon, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

This is ‘democracy’ in Steve Reed’s Croydon Labour Party

CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: Just 56 days until the local elections, and selection stitch-ups are still being carried out in poorly-attended meetings across the borough, with a serious effort to oust a senior black woman councillor to make way for … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, John Wentworth, Nina Degrads, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 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

Veteran councillor Ryan is deselected while in hospital bed

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the latest casualties of the council’s financial collapse Pat Ryan, a Croydon councillor for nearly 30 years, was last night deselected by members at a Labour Party meeting in his home ward of Crystal Palace … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Amy Foster, Bensham Manor, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Felicity Flynn, Hamida Ali, Humayun Kabir, Jerry Fitzpatrick, John Wentworth, Kola Agboola, Leila Ben-Hassel, Mike Bonello, New Addington, New Addington North, Nina Degrads, Norbury, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Shafi Khan, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Council rehomes families from overcrowded Regina Road flats

EXCLUSIVE: New heaters have been promised by the middle of this month, as officials finally start to make changes for those living in ‘appalling’ conditions in South Norwood council flats. By STEVEN DOWNES Families with more than two children living … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Community associations, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Health, Housing, Patricia Hay-Justice, Patsy Cummings, Regina Road Residents' Support Group, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Boycotts and resignations in rows over Labour selections

‘The conduct of Labour Party affairs locally does seem to be almost tailored to create continuing unease and disaffection’. WALTER CRONXITE,  political editor, with the latest round-up of shenanigans “Croydon North’s in meltdown” was how one angry Labour member put … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Addiscombe West, Callton Young, Catherine Wilson, Clive Fraser, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Elliott-Jay Munroop, Felicity Flynn, John Wentworth, Karen Jewitt, Louis Carserides, Mohammed Islam, New Addington, New Addington North, Nina Degrads, Norbury, Norbury Park, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Selhurst, South Norwood, Stella Nabukeera, Stephen Mann, Steve Reed MP, Tamar Nwafor, Thornton Heath, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Regina Road scandal sees two more councillors de-selected

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the latest round of results in Labour’s sometimes shambolic local elections candidate selection process Labour members in South Norwood tonight de-selected two of Newman’s numpties, Clive Fraser and Patsy Cummings, senior councillors who had been … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Bensham Manor, Bernadette Khan, Broad Green, Clive Fraser, Croydon North, Humayun Kabir, Humayun Kabir, Jamie Audsley, Louis Carserides, Manju Shahul Hameed, Muhammad Ali, Patsy Cummings, Selhurst, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cummings and Lewis start the ‘chicken run’ for safe wards

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the unedifying scramble among some Labour councillors to find a safe ward to stand in at next May’s local elections The chicken run is underway among the borough’s Labour councillors, with at least one  current … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Addiscombe East, Alison Butler, Bensham Manor, Hamida Ali, Humayun Kabir, Jamie Audsley, Jeet Bains, Louisa Woodley, Maddie Henson, Mike Bonello, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Raj Rajendran, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

MP Reed in possible data breach over South Norwood flats

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Starmer’s front-bench spokesman on local government is accused of trying to exploit the Regina Road council flats scandal to boost the election chances of his Westminster assistant. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Steve Reed OBE, the Progress MP … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Housing, Louis Carserides, Patsy Cummings, South Norwood, South Norwood Tourist Board, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 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

Garratt and Cummings finally agree to debate climate crisis

It took them a while but, finally, the two frontrunners in the race to be Croydon and Sutton’s London Assembly Member have agreed to take part in an online hustings organised by the Friends of the Earth’s Croydon Climate Action … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Climate Crisis Commission, Community associations, Croydon Friends of the Earth, Environment, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Khan’s lead at the polls could be enough to elect Cummings

If the pollsters have got their numbers right, history could be about to be made in next month’s London Assembly elections, according to our resident psephologist WALTER CRONXITE This time next month, for the first time in history, Croydon and … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Claire Bonham, Croydon Greens, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘Council flats crisis has been heartbreaking, and cruel’

The scandal over the appalling conditions in South Norwood flats rolls on, as the council evacuated some of its tenants into poor conditions – in one case, placing a mother with a two-year-old toddler into what appeared to be a … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, Patsy Cummings, South Norwood, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South Norwood Tourist Board, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Aide to MP Reed selected for South Norwood by-election

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on how the local MP could soon have a member of his office staff on the council Croydon North’s Progress MP, Steve Reed OBE, yesterday moved one step closer to his goal of installing a placeman … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Jane Avis, Louis Carserides, Patsy Cummings, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tenants in rushed evacuation from South Norwood block

There were chaotic scenes outside the block of council flats on Regina Road this afternoon as tenants were being hurriedly evacuated from the building by Croydon Council staff. Some of those being moved complained of heavy-handed tactics, as they clutched … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, London Assembly, Patsy Cummings, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

‘Appalled’ Jenrick seeks ‘urgent answers’ over Croydon flats

Croydon Council has been roundly criticised for its failures to act over the chronic and dangerous water leaks and long-term damp in its block of flats in South Norwood. The appalling conditions – described as “the worst I have ever … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Hamida Ali, Housing, Jane Avis, Mayor of London, Patsy Cummings, Sadiq Khan, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Croydon Labour shaken after resignation of third councillor

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Hamida Ali’s control of the Town Hall continues to crumble, as long-standing councillor Jane Avis decides to quit. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Jane Avis, the council cabinet member for homes and gateway services, has resigned from the … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, New Addington North, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Simon Hall, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Council Tax-payers pay for politicians’ game of cat-and-mouse

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The bankrupt borough is kept waiting for its bail-out, as cabinet reports reveal that council overspending has continued to soar. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Just when you thought things could not get any worse, Croydon Council’s … Continue reading

Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Chris Buss, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Section 114 notice, TfL, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

South Norwood library needs £900,000 more to be fit to open

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mounting repair bills has seen the bankrupt council earmark five public libraries for possible closure. But they are not saying how much they might make if they sell the properties. Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, reports More … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Libraries, Old Coulsdon, Patsy Cummings, Sanderstead, Sarah Jones MP, Shirley North, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments