-
Tax rate blame trickles down to Croydon Tory MP Philp
Backed the wrong horse? – Croydon South MP Philp The government’s troubles over the tax cuts to the most wealthy are having a local impact of their own as prime minister Liz Truss and chancellor Kwasi Kwateng appear to be throwing Conservative MP Chris Philp under the bus after their u-turn on tax this morning.
Philp seems to be feeling a trickle down effect of his own as Truss and Kwateng attempt to shift the blame for the mini budget chaos. down the political food chain to the hapless Philp.
Philp has been doing the media rounds since the announcement when his boss Kwateng and the prime minister have been noticeable by their absence. He has been publicly backing and justifying the mini budget in general and the tax cut to the most wealthy in particular.
This morning after the government backdown, Philp went back to Sky News where he was interviewed by Kay Burley. He was pressed by Kay Burley about his part in developing the policy of tax cuts for the wealthy. Burley mentioned a paper written by Philp suggesting the tax cuts. ‘Was it your idea?’, she asked. ‘Did you suggest in writing that this could be a good idea?’ she said. He refused to answer saying he had said as much as he wanted to say on this. ‘It was your idea wasn’t it?’ Kay Burley pressed on, remorseless.
Under pressure – Philp grilled by Sky News’s Kay Burley today ‘Do you think that people should own their mistakes?’ asked Kay Burley. Philp carried on attempting to justify the mini budget and concluded ‘We have listened to public opinion we have listened to parliamentary opinion. This idea clearly wasn’t popular, so we have removed it’.
It is a pity that the government refused the offer of advice from the Office for Budget Responsibility who could have forecast the market uncertainty that would be provoked by this move. Instead the prime minister has pressed ahead with a trickle down policy that has failed every time it has been attempted and households will be facing rises in mortgage payments causing real hardship during what promises to be an extremely difficult winter.
Philp now finds himself in a tricky position. When a journalist is pressing as hard as Kay Burley was on Philp’s involvement in the development of this policy, it is very likely that she has some proof up her sleeve. A question he needs to ask himself is how this information got out. Philp’s support of this hugely unpopular policy will cost him friends and votes in Croydon South constituency. There are a lot of people with tough mortgages in Croydon South. His efforts at policy making on the hoof will be costing these households a great deal of money.
-
Selsdon Vale and Forestdale by-election – Labour Party chooses candidate
Croydon Council has announced a by-election in Selsdon Vale and Forestdale on November 3rd 2022. This by-election has been caused by the death of popular local councillor Badsha Quadir last month.
Tom Bowell at the Labour conference last month Labour have just selected Tom Bowell to fight the seat as their candidate. Tom ran as a Labour candidate in Addiscombe East ward in the local elections in May and narrowly missed being elected in this always hard fought ward.
Tom has lived in Croydon all of his life. He works in public transport and hopes to bring his expertise in this field to the council if elected. Tom also hopes to bring some new viewpoints to the council gained through his own personal experience. At the age of 21, Tom is a very young candidate and he also hopes to highlight issues relating to the special educational needs of people with autism. Tom says ‘as someone who is neurodivergent, I am looking forward to helping improve SEN provision in Croydon’.
Please let the CRO have your news about the Selsdon Vale and Forestdale by election. Email us on newsdesk@croydoncro.co.uk
-
A Night of Dance – with bells on
Some times road closures are a good thing to see Croydon cultural fixture the Croydon Night of Dance is back on the streets of Croydon after its Covid-19 hiatus.
This annual event is a chance for Morris dancers, musicians and their followers to meet on the streets of Addiscombe to celebrate their tradition of English folk dancing.
This year 13 Morris sides gathered for the event which was held at three venues in Addiscombe. This year’s venues were the Alma Tavern on the Lower Addiscombe Road, the Builders Arms in Leslie Park Road and the Oval Tavern in Oval Road.
The event was opened by the Civic Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Alisa Flemming who was accompanied by the Consort Honorary Alderman John Wentworth.
‘Absolutely fabulous’ says Civic Mayor They both entered into the spirit of the event and said later that the event was ‘absolutely fabulous, we turned up to open the event and stayed for three hours of wonderful dance, music and fun.’
Croydon Night of Dance Bag Man (a Morris term for the secretary or organiser) James Denny said ‘It was great to get back into the swing of things at this year’s Croydon Night of Dance. We have added a third venue to our schedule which we have been hoping to do for a while. All our venues gave a fantastic welcome to CNOD, but our new venue, the Alma Tavern really entered into the spirit of things and we are hopeful that they will be a firm fixture from now on.
CNOD making itself at home at the Alma The Morris sides came from all over London and the South East. Local sides, North Wood Morris Men, Old Palace Clog and The Wild Hunt Bedlam Morris were present as usual. New sides such as Quaggy Morris from Lewisham, Madder Hill Molly from Carshalton, railway-based side Arc and Shovel and Ewell side Green Man Sword added to the wide variety of Morris dancing on show.
CNOD Procession 
High jumps from Lewisham side Quaggy 
Madder Hill Molly Band Croydon Night of Dance has been working together with Croydon Rotary Club for some years to raise funds for local Croydon charities. This year has been no exception. Croydon Rotary Club president, Pat Painting has chosen the Croydon NHS Charity as her charity this year. She was very pleased to hear that the Croydon Night of Dance raised £375.00 for this very good cause.
Sword dancers in Addiscombe and crane lights in the sky Next year promises to be a big one for the Croydon Night of Dance. Bag Man James Denny explains. ‘Its our 20th anniversary. 20 years since a few of us gathered outside the Glamorgan pub for some beer and dance’.
Next year Croydon is also the London Borough of Culture and arts groups will be showcasing the wide variety of cultural activities in Croydon. James Denny is keen for the Croydon Night of Dance to be a part of this. ‘The Croydon Night of Dance will be putting its best foot forward to take part in the events for the Borough of Culture next year. Croydon has given the Night of Dance a great welcome and we want to show that Morris is alive and well in urban environments as well as the village greens that most people associate with the Morris’.
Rotary Club vice-president Loraine Davis, herself a long-standing member of Old Palace Clog said that ‘Morris people are friendly people who enjoy getting together to have fun and it’s always great to see members of the public coming out of their houses to watch the sides at the Croydon Night of Dance. The Rotary Club of Croydon is looking forward to supporting the Croydon Night of Dance next year’.
-
Creative Croydon – Jubilee Celebrations Day 3
Norbury Knitters Platinum Jubilee decorations We are a creative lot here in Croydon and the Platinum Jubilee has given Croydon residents a chance to let rip with the creativity.
All manner of people, residents, faith groups, art groups, craft groups, cooks and sandwich makers have made fantastic efforts to make the Jubilee in Croydon a truly memorable one.
Well before the weekend, Norbury Knitters have been decorating SW16 with all manner of colourful knits including this beautiful banner of flags from all round the world.
Parishoners and local residents under the tree at St Peter’s Church, South Croydon – pic by @stp_croydon Cooks and bakers have been putting together great lunches and teas as part of the Big Jubilee Lunch initiative. Everyone has been sitting out in the fresh air enjoying food and drink and meeting up with old friends and hopefully making some new ones too.
Arts groups have been very busy with Jubilee Events. Stanley Arts at the Stanley Halls in South Norwood have been hosting various events. Beeja Dance held a community dance event at the historic Grade 2 listed halls
Stanley Halls decorations – pic @beejadance 
Taking part – Beeja Dance’s
community dancers
Surrey Street open for business – photo @carlknightly Surrey Street Market was open for business just in case anyone was running low on supplies and as yesterday was Market Day – Surrey Street was looking particularly colourful when bunting was added to the huge array of fruit and vegetables on display.
The CRO has to head off to a street party now so we will leave readers with a few more pictures of the works of creative Croydoners.
Picture from Croydon MPS of decorations in Waddon 
Brass band play Edelweiss at Hall Grange – pic John Cartwright 
Fantastic tea at Legacy Youth Centre 
Young Croydon’s working on a Peace Pole at interfaith celebration @parkhillpark 
@stanleyarts.uk push the boat out with floral displays Creative Croydon -
Croydon Jubilee Celebrations – Day 2
Talented – Sgt James Edwards plays the National Anthem on his violin Day 2 of the Jubilee celebrations in Croydon and there have been a lot of events taking place all over the borough, with residents and faith and community groups coming together to celebrate.
One thing that was very noticeable was that the local police have been out and about attending events making sure that things go smoothly but also using the informal opportunity to meet people and find out more about what people in Croydon think about crime prevention and community policing. At the Faiths Together in Croydon gathering in Park Hill, attendees were astonished when St James Edwards took out his violin and gave a very impressive rendition of God Save the Queen to the crowd.
Kingscote Road setting up Kingscote Road in Addiscombe was preparing for their street party when the CRO came by. There was bunting up, balloons and chairs and tables had been lined up in the road so that residents could sit down to lunch together.
The CRO spoke with one of the organisers, John, who said ‘ we have been looking forward to this for a while, there is still a few things to do to get things completely ready, but what with the bunting, flags and our Union Jack table cloths, it’s going to look great. I think it’s a great idea for everyone in the street to get together like this.’
Call the police! – for a game of football When the CRO popped by a bit earlier, the party seemed to be going very well, despite a bit of rain. So well in fact, that the police had arrived – to play football with a young man who did not want to miss out on the opportunity for a bit of practice.
There are more events and street parties promised over the next couple of days and hopefully we will see more of these bobbies on the beat in Croydon.
Some more pictures of the day below
Civic Mayor Alisa Flemming, Consort John Wentworth and police officers at Glenthorne Avenue 
Two potential crime fighters in Park Hill 
Residents and police chatting in Graham Avenue, Purley -
Croydon Jubilee Celebrations Day 1
Croydon’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations kicked off today all over town with street parties, decorations going up and children proudly putting up their home made posters of the Queen in windows.
Sneak preview – surprise fly past in South Croydon The shops were busy with people getting in some last minute items for picnics, street parties and barbecues. Croydon was even treated to an impromptu flypast by some Apache helicopters on their way to Buckingham Palace for the celebratory display.
The main event in Croydon took place this evening in Katharine Street when the Civic Mayor Councillor Alisa Flemming lit one of the 3,500 beacons being lit all over the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. There was a terrific crowd gathered in Katherine Street who were entertained by a brass band and young people with more up to date numbers.
The Civic Mayor of Croydon Councillor Alisa Fleming lights the jubilee beacon in Katharine Street this evening It was just starting to get dark in central Croydon when the Mayor lit the beacon watched by the crowd.
As the crowds broke up after the event members of the public were saying how good it was to be out meeting up with other people after the isolation of the last couple of years.
Earlier in the evening, the Indian Vegetarian and Vegan Society held a picnic and musical celebration of the beacon lighting in Lloyd Park. Members and guests of the Indian Vegetarian Society gathered to have a vegetarian or vegan picnic and members of the society entertained with music and dance before lighting up the park with glow sticks, torches and mobile phones to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.
Indian Vegetarian and Vegan Society Beacon celebration in Lloyd Park Some more pictures from a busy and memorable day.
Crowds listening to Civic Mayor Alisa Flemming in Katherine Street 
A man who served another Elizabeth – photo by Cllr Jeet Bains 
Councillors Samir Dwesar and Simon Brew at the Reedham Children’s Trust 
Environmental Party at the Addiscombe Railway Park 
Former Mayor Manju Shahul-Hameed and husband Rafi having tea at Age UK -
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Croydon ready for 4 day celebrations
Fairfield Halls lit up for the occasion It’s the beginning of four days of national celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Croydon is joining in.
Croydon residents will be taking part in all sorts of activities to mark the occasion. There will be at least 148 street parties as well as other events to be held at meeting places all over Croydon.
The celebrations will be officially opened by civic Mayor Councillor Alisa Flemming when she lights Croydon’s Jubilee beacon in Katherine Street tonight with a ceremony starting at 8.30pm. All welcome.
The Queen has visited Croydon at least four times through her reign and Croydon has always turned out to welcome her.
Whether you are a rarified royalist or a robust republican this weekend’s celebrations will be a welcome break after a grim couple of years on the national scene.
HM the Queen meeting Addington Palace John Power and staff in 2002 
HM TheQueen, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Councillor Mary Walker, Leader of the Council and David Wechsler, Chief Executive in 1996 
HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Bishop of Croydon Dr Wilfrid Wood, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Croydon Col. Ian McRobbie, Councillor Bob Coatman and Councillor Peter Bowness in 1996 Some of the Queen’s many visits to Croydon -
Fun Runners raise funds for Zaian Centre
Fun runners (and walkers) from all over Croydon gathered on North End last Sunday to take part in a fun run to Ashburton Park in Addiscombe. The Oasis Trust has been raising funds to found a new youth centre in Ashburton Park in honour of Zaian Amiable-Lina who was tragically killed in the park in a knife attack last December. Oasis hope to purchase an old council building in Ashburton Park to develop into a youth centre.
Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry, Rev Steve Chalke, Cllrs Maddie Henson, Stuart Collins and Ola Kolade, representatives of Croydon Police and other supporters at the start of the fun run. The CRO went to Ashburton Park to see all the participants arrive (and put a few pounds in the collection box). Speaking after completing the run himself Oasis Trust Chief Executive Rev. Steve Chalke said ‘I am delighted at today’s turnout and our collectors tell me that there is a lot of money going into the collection. We very much want to set up this youth centre in Ashburton Lodge in the park itself, so any help that readers of the CRO can give would be very much appreciated. (see link to Oasis UK’s fundraising page for the Zaian Centre below).
The CRO had a chance to speak with former Mayor Councillor Stuart Collins who was lending his support to the occasion and had completed the run himself. ‘It’s such a great turnout and fantastic to see everybody here this morning. I have even had a chance to catch up with their new cabinet member for culture Councillor Andy Stranack and we have had a good chat about how we can support this great appeal and also about plans for next year’s London Borough of Culture in Croydon’.
Asked how he did in the fun run Stuart Collins said ‘I ran the whole thing, 18 minutes from North End to Ashburton Park – not bad for 61’.
Click on this image to donate to the Zaian Appeal -
Mayor Perry to foot by-election bill from salary
‘More like an emperor than a mayor’ Croydon’s first executive Mayor, Jason Perry has revealed that he will be footing the bill for the South Croydon ward by-election from his mayoral salary.
As the executive mayor, Perry will be receiving a salary of £81,000 from public funds and last night at his first council meeting since being elected he told councillors and members of the public that he will be personally meeting the costs of the by-election called to fill the vacancy caused in South Croydon ward by his election as Mayor. The law provides that executive mayors cannot also be councillors and Mr Perry’s (and the Conservative Party’s) decision to stand as both mayor and councillor is likely to cost the public purse something in the region of £20,000. Perry is hoping to head off further criticism with this gimmick, but a by-election that should not have happened in the first place is likely to place place already overstretched council staff under even more pressure as the Council tries to adapt to the new governance arrangements.
Perry’s first council meeting as Mayor has also raised other criticisms as he has decided to entirely centralise executive decision making. The law allows directly elected mayors to delegate powers to their cabinet members for day to day decision making but Mr Perry has not done this his delegation scheme thereby ensuring that all decision making rests with him. The CRO spoke to Councillor Stuart King, the leader of the Labour Group on Croydon Council after the Council meeting. Councillor King was unimpressed with the Mayor’s new scheme of delegation saying ‘It looks like the new mayor has delegated absolutely nothing to his cabinet at all. More like an emperor than a mayor’.
-
Talk about embarrassing! Scrutineers to push for review
Muddling through – Croydon’s infamous election count Croydon’s by now legendary (for all the wrong reasons) mayoral and council election count has been over for nearly two weeks and there is still no word from the newly elected executive mayor or senior council officers about a review of the process that resulted in an embarrassing four day long count at Trinity School.
BBC political pundit Lewis Goodall has a joke at Croydon’s expense Croydon’s count debacle even got a mention from the BBC’s Lewis Goodall as he followed the Eurovision Song Contest last weekend when he quipped that Croydon wouldn’t have counted the Eurovision votes until Monday.
The CRO fails to understand why after a number of thoroughly miserable counts at Trinity School, the council still chose to book the count at this venue. Trinity School has excellent facilities for plays, music and sports, but does not have the necessary facilities to deal with literally hundreds of council officers, candidates, supporters, families and the members of the press. The canteen facilities were woeful, as was the lack of toilet facilities. It is a tribute to the patience of the counters and the candidates and supporters that the count was ever completed.
And all this happened while the Fairfield Hall, a traditional venue for council counts, lay empty. Croydon Council has known the date of this election for years. Why was it not booked?
A CRO source told us ‘It was dreadful. Everyone was worn out’. They added ‘in a way this may have some sort of positive outcome. The chief officers will now have to take responsibility for this and do something about it’.
The CRO understands that council members have been pressing for a review of Croydon’s count embarrassment and hope to get the subject in front of one of the scrutiny committees at the earliest possible opportunity.
The process of democracy is far too important to be treated in such a shabby way.
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
The CRO 