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Labour looking strong as freezing polling day approaches
As we enter the final week of the General Election campaign, political editor WALTER CRONXITE gets a guide on the likely results from the pollsters and the bookmakers
Next Thursday’s polling day for the General Election is predicted to have close to freezing temperatures.
But Labour figures are already getting rather too heated and over-excited about their party prospects, with council leader Tony “Words Not Deeds” Newman claiming that the Conservative campaign in Croydon South is facing a real threat from his party’s candidate, Olga FitzRoy. Continue reading
Posted in 2019 General Election, Anna Jones, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Donald Ekekhomen, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Olga Fitzroy, Paul Scott, Planning, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman
Tagged Anna Jones, Barwell, Boris Johnson, Brexit Party, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Gavin Barwell, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mario Creatura, Member of parliament, Olga Fitzroy, Paul Scott, Peter Underwood, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Tory, UKIP
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Permitted development sees soaring numbers of second homes
Any suggestion that the drive, by property speculators, developers and their architect mates, to over-develop Croydon with thousands of flats is in any way really intended at addressing the homelessness crisis can be readily dismissed, after government figures reveal that the borough has had the biggest increase across the whole of England and Wales in the number of second homes this decade:
6529%
Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Planning, Tom Copley
Tagged affordable housing, Croydon, Croydon Council, Housing, Tom Copley
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Davey, Pidgeon, Umunna all cave-in over Twitter smears
CARL SHILTON on how support for the Sutton and Cheam LibDem candidate’s nasty smear campaign started to evaporate, following challenges through formal complaints and threats of libel action
‘Sir’ Ed Davey: the LibDems deputy leader was the first to delete the dodgy smears
It started yesterday, around noon time.
The first of the offending social media messages, which had recirculated by various leading figures, mostly from the Liberal Democrats, started being deleted, erased from the interweb one by one, like the last leaves of autumn falling from the trees.
First to go was “Sir” Ed Davey, the austerity enabler hoping not to lose his Kingston and Surbiton seat for a second time in four years in next week’s election.
The LibDems’ deputy leader deleted his re-Tweet, done about a week earlier, of something put on the internet in the name of Hina Bokhari, his party’s candidate next Thursday’s General Election in Sutton and Cheam, a seat held by the Tories. Continue reading
This is how we have always run elections, since before there was TV or even radio, and no one’s noticed how pointless it is
The redundancy of the traditional hustings format was revealed at the beginning by the compere
KEN TOWL finds there’s not much recreational fun in this electioneering lark, as he attends last night’s set-piece hustings
Having tried my hand at canvassing at the weekend, I thought I would really throw myself into the democratic melee by attending a hustings, the traditional meeting that candidates of yore used to make direct contact with voters before the internet, television or, for that matter, radio existed.
Last night, one was being held in the oddly named Recreational at the recently refurbished, but as yet unfinished, Fairfield Halls. Continue reading
Posted in 2019 General Election, Croydon Central, Croydon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Croydon Greens, Esther Sutton, Ken Towl, Mario Creatura, Sarah Jones MP, Simon Sprague
Tagged Brexit, Brexit Party, Conservative, Croydon Central, Esther Sutton, Fairfield Halls, Green Party, Ken Towl, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mario Creatura, Peter Sonnex, Sarah Jones MP, Simon Sprague, Stormzy, Tory
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Hina Bokhari: election candidate with past shrouded in mystery
CARL SHILTON checks out the credentials of the controversial Liberal Democrat candidate seeking to win Sutton and Cheam from the Conservatives
Hina Bokhari with her LibDem party leader Jo ‘I’m Going To Be Prime Minister’ Swinson
Hina Bokhari, the Liberal Democrat General Election candidate for Sutton and Cheam who has been accused of libel during her campaign, has a past that is shrouded in some mystery and is a subject which she seems to prefer to be off-limits in her campaign.
Her CV is effectively only what the blurb on her LibDem profile says – a teacher for 20 years, former broadcast journalist with BBC London, and the co=founder of a charity for children.
While Bokhari often tells audiences of voters that she is a teacher, in Merton, where she is a councillor in West Barnes ward, her register of interests lists her occupation simply as a self-employed consultant for two charities that were set up by her and her brother, Harris Bokhari. It makes no mention of her being in teaching currently. Continue reading
Threats of libel action as Sutton election campaign turns nasty
EXCLUSIVE: Chuka Umunna, Jo Swinson, Caroline Lucas, even Bianca Jagger, have all taken at face value allegations made by a Liberal Democrat General Election candidate, and so now could now be dragged into a bitter legal action. Our Sutton investigations editor, CARL SHILTON, reports
Official complaint: Hina Bokhari at last week’s hustings in Sutton
Just nine days before the General Election, both Chuka Umunna, the recently acquired poster boy for the LibDems, and Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s only MP, have been dragged into a bitter dispute between a candidate and a senior figure on Sutton Council.
Tim Crowley, the leader of the Conservative opposition in Sutton, spent the weekend instructing lawyers to begin possible libel action against Hina Bokhari, the Liberal Democrat candidate trying to win back the Sutton and Cheam seat from the Tories. Continue reading
South Norwood high street suffers Thames Water torture
‘Improvements’ is Thames Water’s euphemism for delays, inconvenience and disruption
Long-suffering South Norwood residents have been having to deal with more traffic gridlock in and around the high street, after private utility giant Thames Water broke an undertaking to have a new leakage repaired within a week.
A water main burst at the crucial junction at the centre of South Norwood a week ago last Saturday, November 23 – noticed by Crystal Palace fans as they headed home from the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool. Thames Water moved in and dug a massive hole which blocked one lane of Portland Road, instantly causing long lines of traffic with one of their notorious three-way stop emergency traffic lights. Continue reading
Posted in South Norwood
Tagged Norwood Junction, Portland Road, South Norwood, Thames Water
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Campaigns committee has mounting questions for Newman
Questions over the mishandling of Labour’s candidate selection for the Fairfield ward council by-election last month are mounting for Tony Newman.
Tony Newman out campaigning with Caragh Skipper. Questions remain over the handling of the Fairfield selection
Newman leads the Labour group at Croydon Town Hall in an autocratic style, using hundreds of thousands of pounds of council cash to dole out patronage and positions to favoured councillors to maintain his control.
Although Momentum member Jose Joseph was selected by members at a Labour branch meeting as the candidate for the by-election, local party officials instead nominated Caragh Skipper after various unfounded allegations about debts which market trader Joseph’s business is supposed to have owed to the council.
The Fairfield by-election campaign was boycotted by a large number of grassroots Labour members in Croydon, out of disgust for the manner in which Joseph was treated and party democracy ignored.
There have been suggestions that the loss of goodwill, and faith in the local leadership, has carried over since into the General Election campaign, where Sarah Jones is facing a battle with the Tories over the marginal Croydon Central seat. Continue reading
Whyteleafe striker given trial chance with Championship club
NON-LEAGUE NEWS: One of the local clubs’ outstanding players has been offered a trial with a Championship side, while there’s a massive opportunity for a cup giant-killing for another club’s youth team, as ANDREW SINCLAIR reports
In demand: Whyteleafe striker Ronald Sobowale, given a trial at Boro
Whyteleafe’s Ronald Sobowale is making the headlines, after the prolific striker was taken on trial by Championship club Middlesbrough.
National newspaper reports suggest that Sobowale is being watched by scouts from Premier League clubs including Leicester and Watford. Fulham and table-topping West Brom are also reported to be interested in the pacy goal-scorer.
Sobowale, 22, is the cousin of Bayern Munich star David Alaba, and played in Chelsea’s academy alongside Tammy Abrahams and Dominic Solanke. He has been scoring goals for fun in a Whyteleafe shirt this season and his form attracted the attentions of Jonathan Woodgate’s side, who offered him a trial. Continue reading
Rotarians use 60+ Club annual fair to raise funds for homeless
Mayor of Croydon Humayun Kabir with Edward Handley at the opening of the Croydon 60+ Club annual fair on Saturday
The Mayor of Croydon, Humayun Kabir, opened the Croydon 60+ Club annual fair on Saturday, an event attended by Edward Handley, the chair of the 60+ Club – what used to be known as the Darby and Joan Club – Stephen Kirkman, the club secretary, and Chris Dighton, the President of the Croydon Rotary Club.
Together with his wife Sharon, Dighton ran a stall selling general household goods to raise funds for and to promote the “Helping Hand Campaign”.
That’s the Rotary-backed appeal which is supporting Crisis Skylight Centre in Surrey Street to help tackle homelessness in Croydon. Continue reading
Under The Flyover Election Special podcast: Olga FitzRoy
Political editor WALTER CRONXITE introduces the latest of our innovative virtual hustings
Labour won two of the three Croydon parliamentary seats in 2017, and seeking to deliver a cleansweep in 2019 is their candidate Olga FitzRoy.
An award-winning sound engineer who has worked with some of the greats in her industry, from Sir George Martin to Coldplay, FitzRoy’s campaigning for freelance workers’ rights has won widespread recognition and admiration. Continue reading
Posted in 2019 General Election, Croydon South, Inside Croydon, Olga Fitzroy, Under The Flyover
Tagged Croydon South, Labour, Olga Fitzroy
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Under The Flyover Election Special podcast: Anna Jones
WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, continues our series of ground-breaking virtual hustings, where you, the Inside Croydon readers, put your questions to the candidates
Among the candidates standing in the true-blue Croydon South constituency is mother and businesswoman Anna Jones, for the Liberal Democrats. Continue reading
Under The Flyover Election Special podcast: Peter Underwood
WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, introduces the third of our ground-breaking virtual hustings
Ahead of the General Election on December 12, Inside Croydon invited some of the candidates from across the three Croydon parliamentary constituencies to join us at our studios for an Under The Flyover Election Special podcast, where we asked them the questions that you – the reader and supporters of this website – wanted to be asked.
And while for some this is “The Brexit Election”, for others there is an issue more important even than that: the future of our planet. Peter Underwood is the Green Party’s candidate in Croydon South. Continue reading
Under The Flyover Election Special podcast: Chris Philp
Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, introduces the second of our ground-breaking virtual hustings, this time with a candidate who has been MP since 2015
Ahead of the General Election on December 12, Inside Croydon invited some of the candidates from across the three Croydon parliamentary constituencies to join us at our studios for an Under The Flyover Election Special podcast, where we asked them the questions that you – the reader and supporters of this website – wanted to be asked.
Second up was Chris Philp, the Conservative candidate for Croydon South, the constituency with a sodding humungous majority into which he was parachuted in 2015. Continue reading
Under The Flyover Election Special podcast: Simon Sprague
Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, introduces our ground-breaking and unique virtual hustings
Premier League football club opens its doors for the homeless
It’s that time of year again… Crystal Palace Football Club is re-opening its extreme weather emergency shelter for rough sleepers at Selhurst Park this winter.
Whenever the overnight temperature is forecast to fall below freezing, the Glaziers Lounge at Selhurst Park will be converted into a temporary overnight shelter for up to 10 rough sleepers, staffed by volunteers, including club staff, and Croydon Council’s homelessness services.
New arrivals are welcomed with a camp bed for the night, a hot evening meal, breakfast and washing facilities before the space is converted back for normal club use each morning.
Posted in Charity, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace FC, Housing, Selhurst
Tagged Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace FC, Homelessness, Selhurst Park
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Thornberry, white vans and taking canvassing on board
Emily Thornberry, in a red coat, alongside Sarah Jones in Croydon yesterday. Anyone seen Tony Newman?
Just what are those political party activists, armed with clipboards and little slips of paper, doing when they come knocking at your door at election time? KEN TOWL set off to find out
On Saturday at 10am, Emily Thornberry was to meet Labour supporters at the Builders Arms for a pep talk before a canvassing session.
This is in the Croydon Central parliamentary constituency, where Sarah Jones converted Conservative Gavin Barwell’s wafer-thin 165 majority into a win for Labour in 2017 by 5,652 votes. Croydon Central is not in the bag for Labour in this year’s General Election, but pollsters YouGov’s recent seat-by-seat projection has it as a Labour hold.
But then there was the attack on London Bridge on Friday, and all political campaigning was suspended. Continue reading
Fears that Newman cover-up could impact Jones’s election
Tony Newman refuses to answer any questions from his own Labour councillor colleagues over the conduct of the recent Fairfield council by-election, the candidate selection stitch-up and the dreadful circumstances that created the councillor vacancy.
General Election candidate Sarah Jones (foreground) out campaigning earlier this year with council leader Tony Newman (second right). Labour fears his conduct could jeopardise her prospects
Instead, Newman spent more than 24 hours organising a cover-up to avoid his Labour council suffering any political damage.
“He’s told Private Eye magazine more than he’s told us,” one councillor said this week after attending a rare meeting of the Town Hall Labour group on Wednesday night. Continue reading
‘Dumb Creatura’: bad week for Tories who duck questioning
The subject of ridicule in the national press, criticised for handing over voter details to a cult-like church and now too scared to face questions from Inside Croydon’s virtual hustings: Mario Creatura’s dream of becoming a Conservative MP is turning into a nightmare. WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, reports
Mario Creatura, backed by Tim Pollard, invited SPAC Nation to be part of Tory campaigning
Mario Creatura, the some time “special adviser” to the Prime Minister in Downing Street, appears to share a growing number of unattractive traits with Bullshitter Boris Johnson, not least of which is their reluctance to subject themselves to public scrutiny.
Creatura, the Conservative Party’s candidate in Croydon Central in the General Election on December 12, failed to turn up today for the recording of Inside Croydon’s Under The Flyover Election Special virtual hustings.
All the major parties had representatives put up for interview, with questions submitted from this website’s vast readership. But Creatura was too frit to respond to our invitation.
With less than a fortnight to go until the General Election, things have been looking a bit grim for Creatura’s chances.
Given that this week he has been featured as “Dumb Creatura” in the pages of Private Eye magazine (audited circulation: nearly 500,000 per month), while also seeing YouGov pollsters predicting Croydon Central as a “hold” for Labour’s Sarah Jones, it is little wonder that the overly ambitious Creatura appeared a little crest-fallen at last night’s hustings staged in a chilly church hall in Woodside. Continue reading
Posted in 2019 General Election, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Esther Sutton, Gavin Barwell, Inside Croydon, Mario Creatura, Peter Underwood, Sarah Jones MP, Tony Newman, Under The Flyover
Tagged Boris Johnson, Conservative, Croydon Central, Croydon South, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mario Creatura, Peter Sonnex, Peter Underwood, Sarah Jones MP, Simon Sprague, Tony Newman, Tory
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Gallery in South Norwood offers a bit of Brazil in batik
On a rainy night in Croydon, KEN TOWL heads off to Portland Road for a feel of Latin American sunshine
At the weekend I was taking brunch with members of the self-titled FILTH – Failed In London – Try Hastings – crew and was a little disappointed when one of them commiserated with me for the mere fact of coming from Croydon.
To be fair to the seaside literati, the rest leapt to Croydon’s defence, explaining to this hapless person (who was someone in the arts) that it is fast becoming a hub of culture and creativity, the new Shoreditch, if you will. And the Fairfield Halls at least look like the South Bank, even if they are considerably smaller. Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ken Towl, South Norwood
Tagged Elizabeth James Gallery, Ken Towl, Portland Road, South Norwood
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