Tag Archives: Mike Fisher

Battle to win the narrative sees a fight for 17% ‘don’t knows’

Posted on March 25, 2022 by insidecroydon

With a little more than a month before the Town Hall elections, ANDREW FISHER, pictured left, sifts through the shifting opinion polls, nationally and across London, to see what we can learn about how people might vote in Croydon Croydon … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Jason Perry, London-wide issues, Sarah Jones MP, South Croydon, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Referendum offers us a chance for consensus in Croydon

Posted on October 6, 2021 by insidecroydon

REFERENDUM COUNTDOWN: Last week, Labour’s Leila Ben-Hassel offered her reasons for opposing a change in the way the council is governed. With the borough-wide referendum being staged tomorrow, resident – and voter – IAN KIERANS questions the councillor’s arguments Councillor … Continue reading →

Posted in 2021 Mayor Referendum, Leila Ben-Hassel, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Newman’s Town Hall power is challenged by residents’ groups

Posted on July 1, 2019 by insidecroydon

EXCLUSIVE: Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports on how neighbourhood associations have decided that they won’t any longer accept being ‘contemptuously ignored’ by those in power in the borough Council leader Tony Newman and the troika who control the Town Hall … Continue reading →

Posted in Addington, Addington Residents' Association, Alison Butler, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Mario Creatura, Paul Scott, Planning, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Council office entrance closed because of ‘extreme’ weather

Posted on February 1, 2019 by insidecroydon

KEN LEE, our newshound on Mint Walk, sniffs out the latest piece of nonsense from the £140m council office building, where the main entrance has been ruled out-of-bounds Further proof, not that any has been needed, that Fisher’s Folly, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Nathan Elvery, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tories accused of breaking their own rules over selections

Posted on February 9, 2018 by insidecroydon

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on complaints of undemocratic interference in the candidate selection process, and too much influence from the local party leader in those allowed to stand in May’s Town Hall elections At least four of Croydon’s longest serving … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Chris Wright, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Fairfield, Helen Pollard, Ian Parker, Mike Fisher, Purley, Shirley, Steve Hollands, Sue Winborn, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon’s leadership may be resigned to change at the top

Posted on September 19, 2017 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, on last night’s potentially defining meeting of the council The body language spoke volumes. There, sitting behind council leader Tony Newman, the Labour councillors’ heads were down, the arms folded. Facing unremitting questioning after Ofsted … Continue reading →

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Barbara Peacock, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Vast majority of Croydon Tories (about a dozen) vote Perry

Posted on September 15, 2017 by insidecroydon

Jason Perry has been elected overwhelmingly to be the new deputy leader of Croydon Conservatives. When we say “elected overwhelmingly”, we mean just by Tory councillors. A maximum of 29 of them. That’s because Sara Bashford has now got a … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Dudley Mead, Fairfield, Jason Perry, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, South Croydon, Sue Winborn, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon Tories take their revenge on Fisher over #WadGate

Posted on September 13, 2017 by insidecroydon

There was blood on the shag pile at Croydon Tory HQ over selections for next May’s local elections. Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports on the high casualty rate among some of the council’s one-time big beasts Mike Fisher, until 2014 … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Chris Wright, Coulsdon East, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Heathfield, James Thompson, Margaret Mead, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Purley, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards, Shirley, Sue Winborn, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Who stole the town hall? Latham’s book offers some clues

Posted on August 11, 2017 by insidecroydon

Former GLC and Croydon councillor DAVID WHITE reviews an important new book on local government which raises familiar concerns about control of our councils Local government today is not in a healthy state. Most local councillors have little power while … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Croydon Council, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Council’s £140m offices are to become a glorified Job Centre

Posted on July 17, 2017 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE on how the local council has been forced to take in more lodgers in its “prestige” £140m office building Tonight’s council cabinet meeting at the Town Hall is unlikely to uncover quite how the costs of building the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Jon Rouse, Nathan Elvery, Planning, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

#WadGate II, the sequel: Tory Fisher hasn’t paid back a penny

Posted on May 6, 2017 by insidecroydon

Three years on from #WadGate, the Town Hall allowances scandal which brought down the leader of the Croydon Conservatives, and Mike Fisher has not paid back a penny of the public money that he paid himself secretly in his final … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 General Election, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Balancing the books allows Labour to invest in Croydon

Posted on March 1, 2017 by insidecroydon

BUDGET COMMENTARY: With the council’s books balanced, a government-approved increase in Council Tax and front-line services being maintained by the Labour council, it is little wonder that the local Tories have so little to offer, writes Councillor ANDREW PELLING Croydon … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Fly tipping, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Shirley, Simon Hall, Tony Newman, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Piles and stools: a typical night out with Croydon’s Tories

Posted on December 21, 2016 by insidecroydon

If there were any lingering doubts over the real reasons for the Croydon Tories’ continued hostility to having a gypsy and traveller camp at Purley Oaks – or, indeed, at any site proposed in the borough – then the presence … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Chris Philp MP, Gareth Streeter, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Richard Chatterjee, Selsdon & Ballards, Steve O'Connell | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Council finance chief Simpson’s promotion is confirmed

Posted on September 6, 2016 by insidecroydon

Richard Simpson, formerly the council’s finance director, has been promoted to the role of executive director of resources, it was confirmed today. Simpson’s move into one of the six-figure salary roles at Fisher’s Folly is part of the on-going reshuffle … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Nathan Elvery, Paul Greenhalgh, Richard Simpson, Taberner House, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council pimps out £144m offices in £7.5m 10-year deal

Posted on May 26, 2016 by insidecroydon

Croydon’s cash-strapped Labour-run council is today celebrating clawing back just £7.5million-worth of the costs of Fisher’s Folly, the borough’s vastly over-priced civic headquarters. Over a period of 10 years. So only another £136 million to go. At this rate, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Business, Croydon Council, Nathan Elvery, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Newman’s time for change as he faces threat of ‘dead sheep’

Posted on April 17, 2016 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE on the ins and outs of the latest council “non-reshuffles”, and how the the spectre of #WadGate and others’ past crimes still stalk the Town Hall’s corridors of (not much) power “They used to say that being attacked … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016 London elections, 2018 council elections, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Dudley Mead, Hamida Ali, Heathfield, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, London Assembly, Margaret Mead, Mark Watson, Matthew Kyeremeh, Mike Fisher, Pat Ryan, Paul Scott, Planning, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards, Steve O'Connell, Stuart Collins, Thornton Heath, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Whitgift Foundation, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is this the election real life? Is this just MP Barwell’s fantasy?

Posted on March 14, 2016 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE reviews “the world’s longest job application”, the Croydon Central MP’s account of the 2015 General Election campaign If anyone needed further evidence that self-serving career politicians are only in it for themselves, then Gavin Barwell’s How To Win … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Sarah Jones MP | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Never mind the bollocks, here’s the Croydon Conservatives

Posted on March 5, 2016 by insidecroydon

It’s been Anarchy in the Town Hall this week, as our Tory councillors have been channelling their inner Johnny Rottens. WALTER CRONXITE suggests that such cunning stunts fail to serve their residents So who lost out from the decision of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher, Patricia Hay-Justice, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Council erases role of Borough Solicitor as Belvir leaves

Posted on February 24, 2016 by insidecroydon

Julie Belvir, the Borough Solicitor, is to leave her job and the post of most senior legal adviser to the council is to be abolished in a cost-cutting measure. Because it’s not like Croydon Council doesn’t need all the legal … Continue reading →

Posted in Clare Hilley, Croydon Council, Julie Belvir, Riesco Collection, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Council’s ‘wrong’ leader could face a night-mayor of a vote

Posted on February 23, 2016 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE on a revisited proposal which gives the strongest indication yet of how one Croydon MP sees his own career prospects It’s beginning to look a lot like Gavin Barwell is lining up his next job. The idea of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016 London elections, 2018 council elections, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Gerry Ryan, Jo Negrini, London Assembly, Mayor of London, Nathan Elvery, Paul Scott, Shirley, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Newman hands Tories another gift over Council Tax

Posted on February 21, 2016 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE examines the budget options likely to be laid out before Monday’s cabinet meeting and at the full council meeting the following week It’s all over bar the shouting, and there’s sure to be some of that in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Bernard Weatherill House, Chris Philp MP, Council Tax, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Gavin Barwell, New Addington, Simon Hall, Surrey, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Hard-up Croydon rents out top floors of £140m council office

Posted on February 16, 2016 by insidecroydon

Cash-strapped Croydon Council is to rent out the top two floors of the world’s most expensive local authority offices, Fisher’s Folly. They reckon that the lodgers will contribute about £500,000 per year to the borough’s finances. So at that rate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

#WadGate Fisher gets rejected again, this time in Bromley

Posted on October 30, 2015 by insidecroydon

“Whatever happened to Mike Fisher?” no one at Inside Croydon Towers has ever asked. Fisher was the leader of Croydon Conservatives who mismanaged the council for eight years, until he was caught with his hand in the Town Hall cookie … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, 2016 London elections, Bromley Council, Croydon Council, Croydon South, London Assembly, Mike Fisher, Shirley, Steve O'Connell | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

As Newman ‘celebrates’, Whitgift workers fret over future

Posted on September 24, 2015 by insidecroydon

The £1bn Hammersfield supermall may prove to be regenerative for Croydon’s economy. Once it is built. But as STEVEN DOWNES reports, uncertainty over development timescales is blighting existing businesses The start of building work on the redevelopment of Croydon town … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2018 council elections, Allders, Boris Johnson, Boxpark, Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Jo Negrini, John Burton, Mayor of London, Mike Fisher, Parking, Planning, Property, Richard Chatterjee, Shirley, Tony Newman, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Croydon rocks? Well, only if we need new lavatories for dogs

Posted on August 12, 2015 by insidecroydon

There’s recycling. And then there’s regurgitating. As in vomiting up a really bad idea… Croydon Council, having removed the notorious 20 boulders of New Addington, have managed to come up with an idea to dispose of them which is, if … Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Butler, Art, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Environment, Nathan Elvery, New Addington, Purley, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments