The list of the candidates for the directly elected mayor of Croydon is now in the public realm and this new office has attracted 8 nominations. As well as the major parties, there are nominations from new parties and independents. It is a positive thing for the electorate to have a wide choice of candidates and there is an honourable tradition of independents and new parties standing in UK local government elections.

In March The CRO asked the question as to whether or not serial election loser Winston McKenzie was planning on taking another drubbing running as the first directly elected Mayor of Croydon. Mr McKenzie’s reputation is florid but he has given Croydon an extra serving of bizarre as he reappears in his new identity – His Excellency Dr Winston Mackenzie the UN Peace Ambassador. Not sure what the UN would have to say about this latest development. Thankfully for Croydon Mr McKenzie is standing as an Independent and not as a member of the far right UKIP or English Democrats as he has done in the past.

Meanwhile Farah London is on the list of candidates, standing on behalf of the Taking the Initiative Party. Her business background (or lack of it) has already been looked at in some depth by popular Croydon news site, Inside Croydon. However, the CRO took its own look at the Taking the Initiative Party website and was very interested to see that Marianne Bowness training their potential candidates at £45.00 per head for non party members. Who is Marianne Bowness? Winston McKenzie’s long term partner. Are Taking the Initiative aware of this?