Tag Archives: Patsy Cummings

‘It’s an utter joke’: councillors unhappy at selection stitch-ups

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, reports on the brinkmanship taking place in the local Labour Party over controversial reselections With just seven days left before the official opening of nominations for all candidates for the local elections, there remain two … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, David Evans, Hamida Ali, Maddie Henson, Muhammad Ali, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Waddon, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

This is ‘democracy’ in Steve Reed’s Croydon Labour Party

CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: Just 56 days until the local elections, and selection stitch-ups are still being carried out in poorly-attended meetings across the borough, with a serious effort to oust a senior black woman councillor to make way for … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, John Wentworth, Nina Degrads, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Boycotts and resignations in rows over Labour selections

‘The conduct of Labour Party affairs locally does seem to be almost tailored to create continuing unease and disaffection’. WALTER CRONXITE,  political editor, with the latest round-up of shenanigans “Croydon North’s in meltdown” was how one angry Labour member put … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Addiscombe West, Callton Young, Catherine Wilson, Clive Fraser, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Elliott-Jay Munroop, Felicity Flynn, John Wentworth, Karen Jewitt, Louis Carserides, Mohammed Islam, New Addington, New Addington North, Nina Degrads, Norbury, Norbury Park, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Selhurst, South Norwood, Stella Nabukeera, Stephen Mann, Steve Reed MP, Tamar Nwafor, Thornton Heath, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Regina Road scandal sees two more councillors de-selected

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the latest round of results in Labour’s sometimes shambolic local elections candidate selection process Labour members in South Norwood tonight de-selected two of Newman’s numpties, Clive Fraser and Patsy Cummings, senior councillors who had been … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Bensham Manor, Bernadette Khan, Broad Green, Clive Fraser, Croydon North, Humayun Kabir, Humayun Kabir, Jamie Audsley, Louis Carserides, Manju Shahul Hameed, Muhammad Ali, Patsy Cummings, Selhurst, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Garratt doubles victory margin as he takes City Hall seat

NOT-SO-SPECIAL ELECTION SPECIAL: Labour has slipped back in the London Assembly voting, with its worst result in Croydon and Sutton for 13 years. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Neil “Father Jack” Garratt was named on Saturday as Croydon and Sutton’s … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Marina Ahmad, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, South Norwood, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tories are tipped to cling on to Croydon and Sutton seat

NOT-SO-SPECIAL ELECTION SPECIAL: With just hours to go before the polling stations open, WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, offers some important advice to make  sure that your votes count After a turgid campaign that has lasted, off and on because … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Croydon Greens, Kenley, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, New Addington North, Park Hill and Whitgift, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, South Norwood, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tory Assembly candidate in racism row over stop and search

Election candidates have not been subject to the kind of public scrutiny they might have expected pre-covid, and online hustings last week demonstrated why such questioning is so necessary. By STEVEN DOWNES Neil “Father Jack” Garratt, the Conservative candidate for … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Crime, Knife crime, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Policing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Garratt and Cummings finally agree to debate climate crisis

It took them a while but, finally, the two frontrunners in the race to be Croydon and Sutton’s London Assembly Member have agreed to take part in an online hustings organised by the Friends of the Earth’s Croydon Climate Action … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Climate Crisis Commission, Community associations, Croydon Friends of the Earth, Environment, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Khan’s lead at the polls could be enough to elect Cummings

If the pollsters have got their numbers right, history could be about to be made in next month’s London Assembly elections, according to our resident psephologist WALTER CRONXITE This time next month, for the first time in history, Croydon and … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Claire Bonham, Croydon Greens, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘Council flats crisis has been heartbreaking, and cruel’

The scandal over the appalling conditions in South Norwood flats rolls on, as the council evacuated some of its tenants into poor conditions – in one case, placing a mother with a two-year-old toddler into what appeared to be a … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, Patsy Cummings, South Norwood, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South Norwood Tourist Board, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tenants in rushed evacuation from South Norwood block

There were chaotic scenes outside the block of council flats on Regina Road this afternoon as tenants were being hurriedly evacuated from the building by Croydon Council staff. Some of those being moved complained of heavy-handed tactics, as they clutched … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, London Assembly, Patsy Cummings, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

‘Appalled’ Jenrick seeks ‘urgent answers’ over Croydon flats

Croydon Council has been roundly criticised for its failures to act over the chronic and dangerous water leaks and long-term damp in its block of flats in South Norwood. The appalling conditions – described as “the worst I have ever … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Hamida Ali, Housing, Jane Avis, Mayor of London, Patsy Cummings, Sadiq Khan, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Croydon Labour shaken after resignation of third councillor

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Hamida Ali’s control of the Town Hall continues to crumble, as long-standing councillor Jane Avis decides to quit. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Jane Avis, the council cabinet member for homes and gateway services, has resigned from the … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, New Addington North, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Simon Hall, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

South Norwood library needs £900,000 more to be fit to open

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mounting repair bills has seen the bankrupt council earmark five public libraries for possible closure. But they are not saying how much they might make if they sell the properties. Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, reports More … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Libraries, Old Coulsdon, Patsy Cummings, Sanderstead, Sarah Jones MP, Shirley North, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

May 6? Maybe not, as Johnson prepares for new lockdown

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on the implications of any extension to the coronavirus restrictions for the borough’s leafleting cult and the London elections Westminster observers are already predicting that the London Mayoral and Assembly elections, which were postponed from … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Boris Johnson, Croydon Council, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Patsy Cummings, Sadiq Khan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strange Cummings and goings as protests begin over library

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The battle has begun to save the borough’s libraries, under threat because of the council’s financial collapse. GENE BRODIE reports from yesterday’s well-attended protest in South Norwood More than 100 residents, including many parents with youngsters in … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, Libraries, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Section 114 notice, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Labour agree to hold mayoral referendum in October 2021

EXCLUSIVE: Council leader votes for a ballot that could cost as much as £1m, as agreement is finally reached to listen to the wishes of 20,000 Croydon residents. By STEVEN DOWNES The Labour group which controls Croydon Town Hall has … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

BxB-built library which has never opened is now to be closed

The story of South Norwood Library is just the latest example of how thoroughly screwed-up and costly the council’s relationship with its loss-making house-builders has become. GENE BRODIE, our bookish gyms correspondent, reports This could only happen in Croydon. The … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Education, Jane Avis, Libraries, Lisa Taylor, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Section 114 notice, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Croydon in crisis: Emergency budget cuts may not be enough

EXCLUSIVE: There’s simmering discontent among the Town Hall’s ruling Labour group over their leadership’s inconsistent messaging, secretiveness and bungling, while the council’s new chief exec has made a good first impression. By STEVEN DOWNES “It’s like a fresh breeze through … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Patsy Cummings, Simon Hall, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Scott called out over ‘gentrification’ of housing in Croydon

JANE NICHOLL reports on how Black Lives Matter activists responded to councillors’ ‘meaningless words’ at a community-led event at Park Hill Croydon Council’s failing housing policies cannot escape criticism, even at a Black Lives Matter protest which some leading Labour … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Croydon Council, Housing, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Newman bans Labour councillors from ‘liking’ Inside Croydon

WALTER CRONXITE reports on the ludicrous lengths that the council leadership is going to in order to avoid scrutiny of their failing administration Tony Newman, the increasingly absurd leader of Croydon Council, has ordered his fellow Labour councillors not to … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Callton Young, Clive Fraser, Inside Croydon, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Sean Fitzsimons, Stuart Collins, Toni Letts, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Newman hand-picks ‘Secret Seven’ to check on finance panel

EXCLUSIVE: The beleaguered council leader has moved to avoid  being held responsible for the borough’s massive £1.5bn debt and huge over-spend, reports KEN LEE A group of councillors, secretly hand-picked by Tony Newman, will meet tonight to discuss the council’s … Continue reading

Posted in Caragh Skipper, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, David Wood, Leila Ben-Hassel, Patsy Cummings, Simon Hall, Stephen Mann | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Labour council threatens £1m of cuts over mayor referendum

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, watched Monday night’s full council meeting so you didn’t have to Croydon Council will spend £1million on staging, and contestng, a referendum over whether the borough should have a mayor directly elected by all Croydon’s … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 Mayor Referendum, Alison Butler, Community associations, Croydon Council, London Assembly, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Simon Hall, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Cummings wins Labour’s Assembly selection race by 25 votes

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on a close-run thing Patsy Cummings, the councillor for South Norwood, will be Labour’s candidate in Croydon and Sutton for the London Assembly elections in May after winning a ballot of party members in the two … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Florence Eshalomi, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Marina Ahmad, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, Rory Stewart, Rowenna Davis, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, Sian Berry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Decision time for Labour comes too late for Davis or Cummings

Our political editor WALTER CRONXITE, on how a drawn-out selection process has hampered any prospects of electoral success for Labour in Croydon and Sutton in May’s elections to City Hall In a primary contest that has lasted longer than that … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Elliot Colburn, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Rowenna Davis, Tom Brake MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment