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Category Archives: Stuart King
Mayor Perry is caught in a ‘bad lie’ over Addington golf talks
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council’s Bertie Wooster-like leader has got himself into a tangle over talks with an exclusive private members’ club over plans to develop a tract of protected public land. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Mayor Jason Perry’s Conservative-run council … Continue reading
Posted in Addington, Addington Hills, Addington Residents' Association, Business, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Golf, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Property, Shirley Heath, Shirley South, Sport, Stuart King, The Addington GC, Wildlife
Tagged Addington Hills, Bertie Wooster, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jason Cummings, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Shirley Heath, Shirley South, Stuart Collins, The Addington Golf Club, Tory
5 Comments
Perry plans £100m more cuts in country’s first AI-driven council
CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Transformation’ project is set to be rubber-stamped at this week’s cabinet meeting (it will be approved without anything resembling a debate). But according to council insiders, it is ‘rushed’, ‘full of risks’ and just a ‘Trojan horse’ … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Stuart King
Tagged 'Future Croydon', Claire Bonham, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, STUART KING, Tory
8 Comments
There’s good reason politicians are more unpopular than ever
After a week of two budget debates, one in the House of Commons, one at Croydon Town Hall, ANDREW FISHER reckons it is time that our politicians stopped pretending… British politics are in a dire state, nationally and locally, as … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Fisher, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Stuart King
Tagged #FundCroydonFairly, 15% Council Tax hike, Andrew Fisher, Budget 2024, Conservative, Council budget, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jason Cummings, Jeremy Hunt, Keir Starmer, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, Pay More Get Less, Rachel Reeves, Say No To 15%, The Budget, Tory
10 Comments
King gets his bluff called over Tory cuts and Council Tax hike
CROYDON IN CRISIS: It was déjà vu all over again at last night’s budget meeting, where ‘steadfast’ opposition melted as soon as the borough’s opposition councillors were given a stern talking to. TOWN HALL SKETCH by STEVEN DOWNES Anyone out … Continue reading
Posted in Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Esther Sutton, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Stuart King
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Claire Bonham, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Esther Sutton, Fund Croydon Fairly, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Pay More Get Less, Ria Patel, STUART KING, Tory
5 Comments
Cummings’ budget rejected before his big Newsnight moment
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The government has just found £2.5bn in ‘exceptional financial support’ for 19 councils. But Mayor Jason Perry and his finance chief have an anxious week after having had their unbalanced budget rejected in a Town Hall meeting. … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Chris Philp MP, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Section 114 notice, Stuart King
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, BBC Newsnight, Conservative, Council budget, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Fund Croydon Fairly, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Improvement Panel, Jason Cummings, Labour, LGA, Local Government Association, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Newsnight, Pay More Get Less, Ria Patel, S114, S114 notice, Say No To 15%, STUART KING, Tory, Unbalanced budget
4 Comments
21% Council Tax hike but Perry has a pay rise for his mates
There’s a protest planned outside Croydon Town Hall tomorrow for the first of two council budget meetings You pay more. You get less. Long-suffering residents will be protesting outside Croydon Town Hall tomorrow evening, and again the following Wednesday, March … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Callton Young, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, David White, Esther Sutton, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Stuart King
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Assembly, Croydon Council, David White, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Say No To 15%, Tory
3 Comments
Noisy Gaza protestors send Campbell’s audience scurrying
Warmonger Alastair Campbell was forced to scuttle upstairs as his speaking engagement in Croydon last night descended into disorganised farce. The event was a campaign fund-raiser organised by Labour MP Sarah Jones, although in reality it was just as much … Continue reading
Starmer’s ‘moral compass is broken’ says Labour ex-councillor
EXCLUSIVE: While the borough’s Labour MPs and councillors continue to support the party line on Israeli war crimes in Gaza, one senior member has quit with a highly critical parting shot. By STEVEN DOWNES Robert Canning, an ex-councillor described as … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon South, Robert Canning, Stuart King, Waddon
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Gaza, Israel, Keir Starmer, Labour, London, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Waddon
2 Comments
Perry’s Tories opt to send in the heavies to borough’s poorest
CROYDON IN CRISIS: After hiking Council Tax by 15%, the Tory Mayor and his finance chief are now using ‘an in-house army of bailiffs’ to go after residents on benefits who have fallen into arrears. By STEVEN DOWNES While Jason … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, South West London Law Centres, Stuart King
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Council Tax arrears, Covid-19, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jason Cummings, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, South West London Law Centre, STUART KING, Tory, Universal Credit
16 Comments
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 Brigitte Graham, Christopher Herman, Clive Fraser, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Karen Jewitt, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mike Bonello, Sean Fitzsimons, Simon Hall, South Norwood, Steve Reed OBE, STUART KING, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, Tory
2 Comments
Jewitt says there was no wrong-doing – by her charity’s boss
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Many senior figures in the local Labour Party continue to try to deny that there was anything wrong with the way the former leaders behaved in the lead-up to the borough’s bankruptcy, as a speech at the … Continue reading
Posted in Charity, Croydon Council, CVA, Karen Jewitt, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Simon Hall, South Norwood, Stuart King, The Penn Report, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, Woodside
Tagged #PennReport, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Karen Jewitt, Labour, Penn Report, Rob Elliott, Simon Hall, South Norwood, South Norwood and Woodside Community Association, The Penn Report, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, Tory
3 Comments
Auditors and Government both losing patience with Kerswell
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Judged by the ill-considered political posturing going forward into tonight’s full council meeting, the borough’s Labour councillors haven’t yet worked out who it was that bankrupted the borough. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor The conman is back. … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Kola Agboola, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington North, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Stuart King, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Grant Thornton, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, S114 notice, S24 notice, Section 24 notice, STUART KING, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman, Tory
25 Comments
You can depend on Croydon Labour: they always let you down
By STEVEN DOWNES, Editor, Inside Croydon In the end, it was all so sadly predictable. Yet even old cynics didn’t believe it was really going to happen in such a swift and shabby manner until they actually saw it all … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Esther Sutton, Jane West, Janet Campbell, Karen Jewitt, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Patricia Hay-Justice, Ria Patel, Stuart King, Tamar Nwafor
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Callton Young, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Jane West, Katherine Kerswel, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
15 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 15% Council Tax hike, Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Scott, STUART KING, Tony Newman
11 Comments
15% tax hike sends council hurtling into constitutional crisis
ANDREW PELLING on how Mayor Perry faces a humiliating defeat over his controversial first budget because of some less-than-clear legislation, while the borough’s councillors could be in for some very long nights in the Town Hall Chamber Cash-strapped Croydon Council … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Andrew Pelling, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Stuart King
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Alisa Flemming, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Jason Cummings, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, STUART KING, Tory
4 Comments
Newman’s defence slips: there’s ‘no evidence’ of wrongdoing
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The latest in-depth coverage of the borough’s bankruptcy by a national newspaper sees the former Labour council leader dump blame on his erstwhile colleagues. By STEVEN DOWNES The council leader who oversaw Town Hall meetings and gatherings … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Callton Young, Clive Fraser, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Inside Croydon, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Manju Shahul Hameed, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged #PennReport, Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Ellson, Callton Young, Clive Fraser, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Enid Mollyneaux, Jo Negrini, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Manju Shahul Hameed, Paul Scott, Penn Report, Simon Hall, Stuart Collins, STUART KING, The Penn Report, The Times, Tony Newman, Tory
9 Comments
Newman breaks his silence to tell Mail: I did no wrong
CROYDON IN CRISIS: With the Penn Report into possible wrong-doing at the council expected to be released by officials shortly, the former council leader has responded to reports in the national press. By STEVEN DOWNES The Daily Mail today became … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Inside Croydon, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Simon Hall, Stuart King, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged #PennReport, Brick by Brick, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, Penn Report, The Penn Report, Tony Newman, Tory
14 Comments
Public’s furious reaction to Perry’s Premium Council Tax hike
CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Go climb in a skip. No one’s paying that’. Residents’ outrage at Council Tax hike sees demos and petitions planned In the 24 hours since Inside Croydon broke the news of Croydon Mayor Jason Perry’s request to … Continue reading
Posted in Claire Bonham, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Stuart King
Tagged Claire Bonham, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Peter Underwood, STUART KING, Tory
14 Comments
Conservative Mayor Perry loses 3 votes at Town Hall meeting
ANDREW PELLING reports from the Press Gallery on success for Labour, Green and LibDem councillors in opposing Tory moves to cut Council Tax benefits to old age pensioners and the poor Jason Perry, the Conservative Mayor of Croydon, lost three … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Amy Foster, Andrew Pelling, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jason Cummings, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, Mario Creatura, Mayor Jason Perry, Nina Degrads, Rowenna Davis, Sherwan Chowdhury, Stuart King, ULEZ expansion
Tagged Alasdair Stewart, Alisa Flemming, Amy Foster, Andrew Pelling, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Conservative, Council Tax, Council Tax Support, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Jason Cummings, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mayor Jason Perry, Nina Degrads, Rowenna Davis, Tory, ULEZ
4 Comments
Stripped of powers, absentee councillors still getting paid
CROYDON IN CRISIS: One councillor has turned up for just one meeting in six months. Another has been on holiday in Brazil for the last six weeks. But under the new Mayor, councillors have been left with little to do … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Mohammed Islam, Stuart King, Tony Newman
Tagged #ABitLessShit, #ABitMoreShit, Alisa Flemming, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lara Fish, Liberal Democrats, Mayor, Mayor Jason Perry, Mohammed Islam, Steve Reed OBE, STUART KING, Tony Newman, Tory
11 Comments
Perry LIED to council over Brick by Brick’s ‘stair-less’ house
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Opposition councillors demand an immediate apology and question whether the borough’s credulous Tory Mayor can be trusted. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Officials from Croydon Council have been forced to admit that the Conservative Mayor, Jason Perry, lied … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Section 114 notice, Stuart King
Tagged Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Gayle Gander, Green Party, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Nolan Principles, Stair-less house, STUART KING, Tory
20 Comments
Local Labour out of step as Streeting calls for outsourcing
Labour councillors in Croydon joined a union-organised march calling for Mayday Hospital’s ancillary jobs – porters, cleaners and food staff – to be brought back in-house and taken out of the hands of private outsourcing giant G4S, just as Keir … Continue reading
Croydon South’s Labour contender gets backing from MP Reed
Will they ever learn? Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on the latest fumbling efforts by the Labour Party to organise a selection process in Croydon The Croydon Labour Party and their bosses at London Region have lost none of their capacity … Continue reading
Posted in Catriona Ogilvy, Chris Philp MP, Commuting, Coulsdon Town, Croydon North, Croydon South, New Addington, Old Coulsdon, Paul Waddell, Purley, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Sanderstead, South Croydon, Steve Reed MP, Stuart King, Waddon
Tagged Ben Taylor, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Jess Hammersley-Rich, Labour, Mike Smith, Natasha Irons, Paul Waddell, Purley, Sanderstead, Steve Reed OBE, STUART KING, Waddon
2 Comments
Mayor condemned for ‘cruel’ treatment of street homeless
When other local authorities are looking to provide ‘warm banks’ for the poor and winter shelters for the homeless, Croydon’s cash-strapped council is seizing vulnerable people’s possessions in their effort to tidy up their swanky offices. By STEVEN DOWNES Tory … Continue reading
Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Charity, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Property, South Norwood Community Kitchen, Stuart King
Tagged Bernard Weatherill House, Boris Johnson, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Emma Gardiner, Fisher's Folly, Homelessness, London Borough of Croydon, Mario Creatura, Mayor Jason Perry, SNCK, South Norwood Community Kitchen, STUART KING, Tory
15 Comments
#PennReport: No referrals sent to staff’s professional bodies
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Recommendations for action made by auditors, a Local Government Association report and two sets of legal experts have not been acted on by the current CEO. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Confidential legal advice provided to Croydon Council … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Stuart King, The Penn Report
Tagged #PennReport, Brick by Brick, Browne Jacobson, CIPFA, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Mulcahy KC, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, Penn Report, Richard Penn, Shifa Mustafa, Solicitors Regulation Authority, STUART KING, The Penn Report
7 Comments
