Category Archives: Tony Newman

Labour dumps their hard-working Thornton Heath councillor

THE TOSS-CARS 2026, Part 2: Inside Croydon reveals the borough’s hardest-working councillors. PLUS: Which Town Hall figure managed just 12 reports to the council’s smartphone app all year? The Labour Party goes in to Thursday’s local elections with the hardest-working … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Croydon Council, Janet Campbell, Karen Jewitt, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Samir Dwesar, Simon Fox, Stuart King, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Election countdown: splintered voting could see Davis win

Less than one month until election day, our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, looks at the latest polls and by-elections to assess – or guess – how the Croydon electorate will vote for executive Mayor on May 7 While the government … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Merton, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Shirley North, Sutton Council, Tony Newman, Zack Polanski | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

43 days to go and desperation is appearing in election leaflets

After all the calamities inflicted on Croydon by Tory Mayor Jason Perry, from his 33% Council Tax hikes to his unlawful LTN fines, has Labour fallen into their old trap of over-promising before under-delivering? WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, New Addington, New Addington North, Old Coulsdon, Paul Scott, Ria Patel, Richard Howard, Shirley North, Shirley South, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘Red v Blue’ at Town Hall elections could suffer a Green-wash

Polling day in Croydon’s local elections, including its second mayoral vote, is on May 7. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through recent opinion polls and by-election results, but has a warning from history of how ‘challenger parties’ can be swept … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Chris Clark, Chris Philp MP, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, New Addington, New Addington North, Old Coulsdon, Paul Scott, Peter Underwood, Ria Patel, Sarah Jones MP, Shirley North, Shirley South, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Reed’s loyal Streatham SPAD gets transferred into No10

Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE on a Whitehall transfer which may have considerable significance Steve Reed, the MP for Streatham (and Croydon North if he can be bothered), who has been implicated in spying on his colleague councillors in Lambeth and … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Mike Bonello, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Kerswell Affair: Croydon is worse off after CEO’s five years

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The £204,000 per year council chief exec who gave orders to block staff from reading Inside Croydon has been attracting adverse headlines for 30 years. By STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell’s 30-year career in local government will probably … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Kerswell takes another pay-off as she quits as council’s CEO

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor Jason Perry makes another massive ‘reward for failure’ from public money as his chief executive joins the stampede for the exit at Fisher’s Folly. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell has resigned from her £204,000 per … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jane West, Jo Negrini, Karen Agbabiaka, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Nazeya Hussain, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

The Fraud: how Reed’s Labour spied on Croydon councillors

Three years ago, Al Jazeera broadcast a series of films, called The Labour Files, based on information gleaned from one of the biggest data leaks in history. One episode was devoted to events that took place in Croydon in early … Continue reading

Posted in 2017 General Election, 2024 General Election, Alison Butler, Clive Fraser, David Evans, Hamida Ali, Inside Croydon, Paul Scott, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

We have been betrayed by broken promises, deceit and scandal

EXCLUSIVE: One of the first journalists to be given access to the book which has been sending shockwaves along Downing Street and making headlines on Fleet Street, Inside Croydon columnist ANDREW FISHER reviews The Fraud Lots of books are written … Continue reading

Posted in 2017 General Election, 2024 General Election, Andrew Fisher, David Evans, Inside Croydon, Paul Scott, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Councillor has been breaking law on disclosures since 2022

Tamar Barrett, a company director who has been a Labour councillor for almost four years, has never submitted an accurate declaration of interest. Tonight, the councillor is seeking reselection in Thornton Heath. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES A councillor who is … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Croydon Council, Rowenna Davis, Scott Roche, Shirley South, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor), Thornton Heath, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Carserides gets new job as a lobbyist offering inside influence

Who does your local councillor really represent? It’s a reasonable question for all residents to ask, particularly those in South Norwood. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Just who does Labour councillor Louis Carserides represent? It’s not an unreasonable question for … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Louis Carserides, South Norwood, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Stuart King, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bromley by-election sees historic first Reform win in London

Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on how Alan Cook’s poll success on the other side of the borough boundary is sending shock waves into Croydon They’re going to need a bigger vote… You know how, early in the original Jaws movie, … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Bromley Council, Coulsdon, Croydon East, Croydon Greens, Croydon West, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, New Addington North, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman, Waddon, Zack Polanski | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

‘The government was left with no choice’ over Commissioners

The government “was left with no choice” but to appoint Commissioners to take over the running of Croydon’s omnishambles council, a decision which reflects “serious failings on leadership and culture” at the Town Hall. Two of Croydon’s Labour MPs, Sarah … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Chris Philp MP, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Minister rules out new mayors – but Croydon’s stuck with ours

Government proposals over the running of local councils will mean more ‘strong leaders’ across the country – like Tony Newman. Or Mike Fisher. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, reports The Labour government wants to “standardise” local council governance so that most … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Mike Fisher, Reigate and Banstead Council, Sadiq Khan, Surrey, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Owner Ansari seeks to avoid Leslie Arms planning conditions

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Since 2000, a multi-millionaire property developer has been allowing a Grade II-listed pub to decay. Now, he wants to change the conditions of his latest planning permission. KEN LEE, Town Hall reporter, on the sorry tale of … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, Housing, Leslie Arms, Planning, Property, Pubs, Tony Newman, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Trebles all-round! Kerswell’s nominated herself for an award

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council still has debts of £1.4bn, or more, but that won’t stop a select few execs attending a gala event at a Mayfair hotel next week, where tables cost up to £5,000 and our bureaucrats are … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

All change at Boxpark as they appoint Farrell as ‘growth officer’

The company behind Boozepark at East Croydon has appointed Michelle Farrell as its first “chief growth officer”. “It makes her sound like she’s in charge of verrucas and warts,” according to one punter stepping into the Croydon venue this morning. … Continue reading

Posted in Boxpark, Business, Jo Negrini, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Agent on a mission overlooks Coulsdon Tories’ dark secret

It is just over a year until Croydon goes to the polls in its second Mayoral election, and the local Tories already seem up for the fight. But leading the way for them is a paid gofer who struggles to … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Taylor, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Council Tax, Croydon South, Ian Parker, Mario Creatura, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Party bosses criticised over bungled Mayor candidate selection

WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, on the grumblings of disaffection among ‘loyal’ Labour members in Croydon  What’s left of Labour’s membership in Croydon, even those described as being part of the “loyal mainstream”, are getting increasingly unhappy with the way the … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon East, Simon Hall, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Labour Party ends suspension of ex-council leader Newman

CROYDON IN CRISIS: After more than four years, the two men who presided over what at the time was the biggest financial collapse in the history of local authorities in England have been allowed back into their political party. EXCLUSIVE … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, David Evans, Fieldway, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Rowenna Davis, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Steve Reed MP, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

82% of Labour members back Davis as 2026 Mayor candidate

The 2026 Croydon Mayoral contest began in earnest today when Labour finally got round to naming their chosen candidate EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor To the surprise of absolutely nobody – except perhaps Manju Shahul-Hameed – Rowenna Davis has … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Labour blocks members from questioning mayoral candidates

Our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, sneaked in at the back of Labour’s Zoom room last night to discover what the party’s 2026 mayoral candidates might have to offer to the people of Croydon, and found himself in a dystopian bonus … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Labour sticks with Anonyvoter to choose its mayor candidate

Labour’s inexplicably delayed selection process to choose a candidate to run for Croydon Mayor in 2026 enters its final stages tomorrow, but without the party holding a single in-person selection meeting with the pair of wannabes, councillors Rowenna Davis and … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘We need a Mayor who puts people first’ says Labour’s Davis

Rowenna Davis has emerged as the front-runner in the race for selection to be Labour’s candidate for next year’s Croydon mayoral elections. A councillor for Waddon since 2022, Davis announced over the weekend that she has been shortlisted in her … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Newman Numpty could seek Labour pick as Mayor candidate

EXCLUSIVE: In 2021, one councillor seeking to be chosen as her party’s candidate for elected Mayor ran a campaign with the slogan: ‘I can do more for the people I care about’. What might be her catchphrase be in 2025? … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments