Category Archives: Emily Benn

Croydon South election hustings, Croydon High, Apr 28

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Gill Hickson, Kathleen Garner | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Benn launches her election campaign. Not that you’d notice

STEVEN DOWNES on the non-existent General Election campaign across most of south London Yesterday evening, I made one of my occasional appearances on a recording of Metroknobbers, the south London hyperlocal podcast organised by Jason Cobb, who writes on matters … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Emily Benn, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Croydon election candidates undergo moving experiences

Someone recently posed the question: “Is Croydon boring?” There’s only one answer to that as far as the General Election candidates for the borough’s three constituencies are concerned. Two too safe seats, one marginal, and not a single colourful candidate … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Heathfield, Jon Bigger, Property, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Steve Reed MP, Winston McKenzie | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Waddon councillors silenced over Boris flyover proposals

Croydon Labour is supporting a multi-million-pound road-building scheme which will destroy homes and part of a public park while benefiting developers who are Conservative Party donors. And the councillors for the ward most affected have been worryingly quiet. By STEVEN … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2015 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Boris Johnson, Business, Commuting, CPO, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Environment, Gavin Barwell, Hamida Ali, John Burton, Joy Prince, Kathy Bee, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Parking, Paul Scott, Peter Underwood, Planning, Property, Purley Way, Robert Canning, Tony Newman, Transport, Waddon, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Planning chairman backs down over ban on MP Barwell

How many U-turns does Labour’s council leader Tony Newman have to perform before he disappears up his own fundament? Gavin Barwell will be allowed to speak at tonight’s planning meeting at Croydon Town Hall after all, as the Labour-run council … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Oasis Academy, Oasis Academy Shirley Park, Paul Scott, Planning, Ryelands Primary and Nursery, Sarah Jones MP, Schools, Tony Newman, Transport, Whitgift Foundation, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Poster propaganda prompts Barwell into another costly error

The Croydon Labour brains trust (ha!) that is running the Town Hall has managed to score yet another political own-goal, handing a gilt-edged opportunity for Gavin Barwell, the MP for the Whitgift Foundation, to boost his flagging credibility. From the … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Nathan Elvery, Sarah Jones MP, Simon Hall, Tony Newman, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 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

Shapps sends an SOS for Barwell: Save Our Salaries

HAS GAV GIVEN UP (Part 94): Not so much a straw in the wind. More an entire bale of hay that shows the Conservatives are very worried for the fate of their former Tory HQ wonk, Gavin Barwell, as last … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Addiscombe West, Ashburton, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Tom Brake MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon streets being paved with gold – or public cash

Next Monday, the council starts work to give the area around East Croydon Station a £5million overhaul. But when all the work is finished, will we be able to say it is money well spent? If the quality of some … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Boris Johnson, Business, Centrale, Commuting, CPO, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Emily Benn, Environment, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Jon Rouse, Kathy Bee, Mayor of London, Menta Tower, Nathan Elvery, Planning, Property, Restaurants, Ruskin Square, Sarah Jones MP, South Croydon, South Croydon Community Association, Stiles Harold Williams, Tramlink, Transport, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Purley Pool shows Tories and Labour are both in shallow end

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Croydon South’s anarchist candidate, JON BIGGER, pictured left, says that the decision over Purley Pool is another example to show there’s little difference between his Conservative and Labour election rivals The debate around the closure of Purley Pool … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Jon Bigger, Leisure services, Purley, Purley Pool, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Benn puts clear blue water between herself and pool closure

The Hon Emily Benn, who once distinguished herself as being “a Benn, not a Bennite”, made it clear at last night’s Croydon South Posh-Off debate that she’s not Ed, nor Ed. And she doesn’t much care for some of the … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Ottaway MP, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Spot the difference as Philp takes on Benn in Purley Posh-Off

There promises to be a “Posh-Off” when Coulsdon and Purley Debating Society stages a General Election debate next Monday – yes, it’ll be January 5 – as the Tory candidate in Croydon South, Chris Philp, takes on Labour’s The Hon … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Jon Bigger, Kathleen Garner, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Ottaway MP, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pool closure leaves Labour’s Emily Benn high and dry

WALTER CRONXITE on how Labour has quickly reinforced Croydon’s North-South divide, in moves which it may come to regret Have you got the message? If you live in Purley, Kenley or Coulsdon, Labour don’t expect you to vote for them. … Continue reading

Posted in Ashburton, Bishop of Croydon, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Parking, Purley, Purley Pool, Tony Newman, Transport, Waddon, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Newman takes his group off to Brighton, paid via the rates

If you live in one of the Labour-held wards in Croydon, you probably didn’t have an opportunity to meet your publicly funded councillor at a residents’ surgery this weekend. You definitely would not have seen council leader Tony Newman standing … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Addiscombe West, Ashburton, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Nathan Elvery, Purley, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jobs, homes and wages: Questions still to be answered

A Croydon-based economics commentator has issued a coruscating critique of the conference speech given in Manchester this week by Labour leader Ed Miliband, just months before his party faces an election which, if they win, will make him Prime Minister. … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Andrew Fisher, Business, Centrale, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Environment, Gavin Barwell, Health, Housing, Richard Ottaway MP, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mead speaks out at cabinet on behalf of his “inner circle”

In an extraordinary outburst of arrogance, entitlement and pomposity, Dudley Mead, the deputy leader of the Conservative group on Croydon Council, last night underlined exactly why neither he, nor any other councillor with vested interests outside the Town Hall chamber, … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Dudley Mead, Education, Emily Benn, Jo Negrini, Mike Fisher, Planning, Property, Selsdon & Ballards, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Education spokeswoman joins Letts on Whitgift board

An overwhelming 81 per cent of respondents in Inside Croydon’s latest online poll believe that veteran Labour councillor Tony Letts should resign her position on the board of governors of the Whitgift Foundation to avoid conflicts of interest in her … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Alisa Flemming, Allders, Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Education, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Margaret Mead, Old Palace, Property, Sarah Jones MP, Schools, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Trinity School, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Croydon Tory MP chooses Sutton grammar school for his son

GENE BRODIE, our education correspondent, delivers another exclusive report which reflects badly on the real standards of schools in our borough There is not a secondary school in the whole of Croydon that is good enough for the son of … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Clare Hilley, Croydon Central, Education, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Old Palace, Sarah Jones MP, Schools, Sutton Council, Trinity School, West Thornton, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Benn’s selection is another sign that the voters always lose

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Next year’s General Election candidates in the borough’s southern-most constituency confirm the political consensus, says JON BIGGER The Labour Party today selected the Hon Emily Sophia Wedgwood Benn to stand as their candidate in Croydon South at the … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Jon Bigger, Richard Ottaway MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Tony Benn’s granddaughter offered a selection open goal

“Oh no,” said one senior local Labour political figure when Inside Croydon informed them that the Hon Emily Benn would be the Labour parliamentary candidate in Croydon South at next May’s General Election. “What a pity. Why’s she putting herself … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon South, Emily Benn, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Whoops! Tories drop West Thornton from election advert

WALTER CRONXITE, our man outside the Croydon Tories’ head office in Purley with a rolled up copy of the local paper and a iPhone 5S in his pocket, reports on another example that shows that politicians take the electorate for … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, Bernadette Khan, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Emily Benn, Steve Reed MP, Stuart King, Vidhi Mohan, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Inglis Road, Addiscombe: London’s most political street?

Is Inglis Road the most political street in Croydon, or even London? This one short road in Addiscombe has six residents who are standing for election in the local council elections on May 22. The six candidates will be representing … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, Addiscombe West, Alison Butler, Bensham Manor, Community associations, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Croydon Greens, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Paul Scott, West Thornton, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Viscount, two Lords and a comedian back Labour campaign

Eddie Izzard was out campaigning in Croydon town centre this morning with local Labour leader Tony Newman. Cue jokes from all other political parties about there being more than one comedian in Croydon Labour… It’s unclear whether many of the … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, Boris Johnson, Catriona Ogilvy, Emily Benn, Heathfield, Louisa Woodley, Mayor of London, New Addington South, Oliver Lewis, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Waddon, Wayne Lawlor, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tony Benn’s granddaughter selected for West Thornton ward

Emily Benn, the granddaughter of former Labour government cabinet minister Tony Benn, seems set to be a Croydon councillor next year. Norwood resident Emily Benn has been selected as a candidate to stand in the safe Labour ward of West … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, Bernadette Khan, Emily Benn, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments