Tag Archives: Stuart Collins

Four black women among six councillors rejected by Labour

Six of Labour’s 34 sitting councillors have been deemed not good enough to be candidates for the party at the 2026 local elections – including a council shadow cabinet member and a 2024 parliamentary candidate. EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Alisa Flemming, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Enid Mollyneaux, Eunice O'Dame, Karen Jewitt, Norbury Park, Patsy Cummings, Sherwan Chowdhury, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Labour axes at least two sitting councillors in brutal process

At least two of Labour’s sitting councillors have been deselected by party chiefs in a brutal process that has opted to discard the combined experience of 40 years’ service at the Town Hall EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor The … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Karen Jewitt, Patsy Cummings, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Labour deputy leaders Young and Collins to stand down in 2026

At least 15% of Croydon’s sitting councillors won’t be seeking election in 2026, while some are doing the ‘chicken run’ to stay on the council gravy train. EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Nearly a dozen of Croydon’s current 70 … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe West, Brigitte Graham, Broad Green, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Clive Fraser, Coulsdon Town, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Fairfield, Louis Carserides, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Old Coulsdon, Patricia Hay-Justice, Paul Ainscough, Purley, Ria Patel, Richard Chatterjee, Rowenna Davis, Shirley North, Simon Brew, Simon Fox, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Sue Bennett, Thornton Heath, Waddon, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Children’s services passes Ofsted inspection despite 5 deaths

The sigh of relief from the Town Hall could be heard all the way to Purley, as inspectors passed the council’s under-pressure children’s care department as overall ‘Good’. But with only 80% staff and a series of deaths of youngsters … Continue reading

Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Debbie Jones, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stuart Collins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Collins named as new £175,000 director of children’s services

Stuart Collins – no, not that one – has been appointed as the council’s corporate director of children, young people and education, taking over from septugenarian Debbie Jones. The job was advertised in August with a £175,000 per year salary. … Continue reading

Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, SEND, Stuart Collins, Youth Services | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon’s fly-tip prosecution record is 2nd worst in all England

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Fly-tipping continues to get worse under the borough’s part-time Mayor, according to official government figures, reports our environment correspondent, PAUL LUSHION Three months ago, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (we’ll refer to them as DEFRA … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Croydon Council, Environment, Fly tipping, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Refuse collection, Simon Fox | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Perry’s porkie pies: Mayor finally admits to his golfing links

After a private golf club held ‘consultation’ meetings with SIX residents’ associations, Jason Perry has been forced to make a U-turn and contradict his previous statements while giving an undertaking not to allow any development on Shirley Heath and Addington … 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, The Addington GC, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tory councillor signs petition opposing Shirley Heath land grab

Conservative councillor Jason Cummings last night joined more than 4,400 others in signing the petition that calls on the Mayor of Croydon to refuse to allow public open space at Shirley Heath and Addington Hills to be developed by The … Continue reading

Posted in Addington, Addington Hills, Addington Residents' Association, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Golf, Jason Cummings, Peter Underwood, Planning, Property, Shirley Heath, Shirley South, Sport, Stuart Collins, The Addington GC, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Time to end cash-strapped council’s £1.5m political subsidies

CROYDON IN CRISIS: There’s cuts planned to all kinds of services in the borough in the coming months. The only thing local politicians aren’t planning to cut-back on are their own jobs, as WALTER CRONXITE reports The holidays are over. … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Alasdair Stewart, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon West, Endri Llabuti, Esther Sutton, Jade Appleton, Karen Jewitt, Mario Creatura, Matt Griffiths, Mayor Jason Perry, Park Hill and Whitgift, Simon Fox, Stuart Collins, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Croydon Labour’s ‘useful idiots’ continue on their national tour

Our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, investigates the ritual humiliation meted out with repeat selection defeats being suffered by devoted Newman Numpties, councillors Manju Shahul-Hameed and Sherwan Chowdhury Two time-serving Croydon Labour councillors have spent the last few months touring England … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Croydon North, Manju Shahul Hameed, Sherwan Chowdhury, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blairites stage factional coup to oust Fisher from CLP post

A small cabal of right-wingers, including a former council deputy leader who played a leading role in bankrupting the borough, staged a little coup last night to oust Andrew Fisher as the chair of Croydon Central’s Constituency Labour Party. Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Fisher, Croydon Central, Maddie Henson, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Labour’s Town Hall group in rush to crown King as new leader

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the latest behind-the-scenes moves by some of those who helped bankrupt the council The Labour group at the council, now reduced to 34 councillors, is moving swiftly to anoint Stuart King as their new leader. … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Hamida Ali, Joy Prince, Manju Shahul Hameed, Paul Scott, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

From bankrupt to laughing stock as council count continues

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the country’s longest-lasting election count, and more unwanted notoriety for Croydon The Croydon election count looks set to head into a fifth day, and its second week, after yesterday’s session at Trinity School managed to … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Clive Fraser, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Jason Perry, Jeet Bains, Katherine Kerswell, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Maria Gatland, New Addington South, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross, Waddon, West Thornton, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Half of Shawcross’ team helped keep Newman in power

CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: There’s probably a reason that Val Shawcross has neglected to publish details of who is working on her very well-funded Mayoral election campaign: it includes seven councillors who helped to bankrupt the borough. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Carole Bonner, Chris Clark, Clive Fraser, Croydon North, Maddie Henson, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Sherwan Chowdhury, Simon Hall, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Mayor candidate Shawcross’s ‘new’ direction not so new at all

Any ‘clean break’ with the incompetence and graft of the past at Croydon Town Hall that is being offered by Labour Mayoral candidate Val Shawcross appears doomed by her own campaign’s deep-rooted connections with discredited Tony Newman and some of … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Alisa Flemming, Brick by Brick, Broad Green, Business, Callton Young, Children's Services, Chris Clark, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, David Evans, Fairfield Halls, Fly tipping, Hamida Ali, Humayun Kabir, Karen Jewitt, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Meals on Wheels, Planning, Refuse collection, Sarah Jones MP, Schools, Sean Fitzsimons, SEND, Sherwan Chowdhury, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mayor will have little say over borough’s rubbish contractors

CROYDON COMMENTARY: It is one of the biggest and most important services provided by any local council. But the manner in which the borough has outsourced the management of bin collections, street cleaning and waste disposal and recycling has become … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Business, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, idVerde, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Peter Underwood, Refuse collection, Stuart Collins, Sutton Council, Val Shawcross, Veolia, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Labour to sack councillor who voted against benefit cuts

CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: The Tony Newman-led vendetta against one of his own council group seems set to reach a bitter conclusion this week when Andrew Pelling looks likely to have the whip removed for daring to vote in the … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Hamida Ali, Joy Prince, Paul Scott, Robert Canning, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Residents’ despair over vile fly-tips, including a pig’s head

Residents of a quiet Thornton Heath street are becoming increasingly angry at Croydon Council for its lack of action over some persistent fly-tipping, which most recently has seen bin bags full of rotting animal parts, including a pig’s head, dumped … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Fly tipping, Refuse collection, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Buck stops here: Labour campaign disarray after fixer quits

CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: The party’s local organiser has quit his job just months before council elections after a row over how much backing to give to Val Shawcross’s Mayoral campaign. And there’s only a short-term plan for a replacement. … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Central, Paul Scott, Sarah Jones MP, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Nearly two-thirds of Croydon waste is going to the incinerator

#BINMAGEDDON: Official figures show that the council’s rubbish contractors Veolia and Viridor are creating more pollution. By our environment correspondent, PAUL LUSHION Official figures published this week show that 63 per cent of Croydon’s rubbish is being sent straight to … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Environment, Fly tipping, Refuse collection, Stuart Collins, Veolia, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Spooky! Ghost of council’s past returns in time for Halloween

It must be Halloween. A ghost of Croydon Council’s past has turned up to haunt a mayoral event. A year since Croydon Council went bankrupt, and nine months since he was forced to resign as a councillor after having been … Continue reading

Posted in Humayun Kabir, Sherwan Chowdhury, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a 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

More Labour disarray as BAME councillors Wood and Ali quit

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on two shock withdrawals from the selection process for next year’s local elections Croydon’s Labour group is in further disarray this morning after the sudden withdrawal from its candidate selection process of two BAME councillors who … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Broad Green, David Wood, Manju Shahul Hameed, Muhammad Ali, Selhurst, Stuart Collins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments