Author: croydonconstitutionalists

Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon – My Tuppenceworth speech

Our Free Speech event, My tuppenceworth, on Tuesday 19th November gave lots of people the opportunity to speak.  One of those speeches came from Mike Swadling, we have reproduced the text below.

My tuppencyworth sets out to prove what former House of Representatives Speaker Tip O’Neill said “all Politics is local”.

For I would like to talk to you about a Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon.

Now don’t let the title fool you, this merely reflects the title given in the legislation.

An elected mayor replaces the current council leader, and wow does that leader need replacing.

First some facts about the borough.

  • If Croydon was a city it would be the 8th largest in the UK with over 385,000 people.
  • Over 14,000 businesses are based in Croydon.
  • At an average salary of just over £29,000 we earn about £5,000 more than the UK average.

This numbers hide some huge disparities.

The London Borough of Croydon, was formed in 1965 from the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District and the County Borough of Croydon.

It is really 2 or 3 distinct areas thrown together as part of the Greater London sprawl.

The 60 bus coming into Norbury, travels through the typical inner London communities of Thornton Heath and Broad Green.

Croydon and South Croydon are more typical outer London suburbs.

Then somewhere travelling down from Purley the area turns into rural Surrey as the bus passes and eventually climbs the North Downs into Old Coulsdon.

Those differences exemplify why we need a mayor. 

Today reflecting these differences, Croydon has a Conservative strong hold to the south, a Labour strong hold to the north.  With swing seats in Parliament and on the Council in the centre.

The parties focus overwhelmingly on the swing wards, and frankly they admit this themselves.

But it gets worse….

The leader of the council is selected by the councillors of the winning party.  This could be just 21 votes from councillors, all in safe seats.

This is compounded by over half the councillors being granted special allowances for additional roles, often given to them by the same leader they have just appointed.

An elected mayor will be for voted by all of the people of Croydon,

If they want to win election, and re-election they will need to win substantial numbers of votes from, and represent all of the borough.

We want an executive head we can vote for, someone to drive the town forward, and someone to blame.

Even in this illustrious group, few here will know who at the council is responsible for the potholes that litter the town, or who has responsibility for our 120 parks and open spaces.

Who do we hold accountable for the Children’s Services that continues to be rated as Inadequate by Ofsted?

With a Mayor we know who is responsible and who to hold accountable – it is, the Mayor.

We have a campaign.

It is the only show in town to improve the way Croydon is governed.

We are formed by, and have support from many local residents associations.

We also have support from the Conservatives, Croydon South Labour, The Brexit Party, the Libertarian party and the Christen Peoples Alliance Party.

We need 15,000 signatures and we can then put it to the people.  If you are a Croydon resident sign the petition and give the people of Croydon a free choice.

Podcast Episode 14 – General Election Candidates Update & My Tuppenceworth

We discuss the finalised list of nominated candidates for the 3 Croydon seats in the impending General Election and our upcoming free speech event “My Tuppenceworth“.

Special thanks to Tim Duce for our intro and outro music. https://timduce.bandcamp.com/

Croydon Central Hustings Tickets as discussed in this episode. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spotlight-croydon-central-hustings-2019-tickets-82035900587

Official notices for Croydon Constituencies

Spreaker

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Podcast Episode 13 – Elections Galore! General Election and more.

Special thanks to Tim Duce for our new intro and outro music.

We discuss the upcoming General Election and the recent By-Election in Fairfield ward.

Mike provides an update on the campaign for a Democratically Elected Mayor for Croydon and we discuss our upcoming free speech event “My Tuppenceworth“.

Fairfield By-Election article: https://www.onlondon.co.uk/croydon-labour-fairfield-by-election-hold-provides-clues-to-general-election-contest/

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Sputnik Radio Interview – Labour’s Economic Policy ‘Farcical’ – Croydon Constitutionalists Member

Michael Swadling of the Croydon Constitutionalists spoke again with Sputnik Radio on the 7th November 2019 about the upcoming general election.

“This isn’t planned about striving and having aspirations, the Labour Party policy is really just about cutting the cake that we have today and redistribution – that doesn’t generate wealth”

“In 1997, Labour became electable because Tony Blair put out a positive message, and he put out an aspirational message, going back to the 1960’s.That’s how Wilson got elected, he talked about technology and the future of Britain. …and the modern Labour Party just looks like an unhappy party. Why would anybody vote for that?”

Full article https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201911071077249214-labours-economic-policy-farcical—croydon-constitutionalists-member/

November – Democracy Month

With another deadline to leave the EU missed, and a General Election that most of our politicians were too frit to hold, the Croydon Constitutionalists are marking November as Democracy Month.

To start the month a video of the great Peter Shore MP on how politicians use fear to subvert democracy.

“So the message, the message that comes out is fear, fear, fear.
Fear because you won’t have any food.
Fear of unemployment.
Fear that we’ve somehow been so reduced as a country that we can no longer, as it were, totter about in the world independent as a nation.
And a constant attrition of our moral.
A constant attempt to tell us that what we have and what we had as not only our own achievements, but what generations of Englishman has helped us to achieve, is not worth a damn”

Leavers of Croydon, eh?

The Globe and Mail, Canada’s “newspaper of record”, and with a weekly readership of 2,018,923 is Canada’s most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays.  They also came to see the Leavers of Croydon at our recent drinks.

Thanks to Teresa Eng for interviewing us on the day.

“We’re a sovereign nation – we don’t need to be told what we can and can’t do. I’m not worried about a no-deal Brexit. Let’s get on with it“

HILARY AND ROBERT JUDGE

“The Remainers’ favourite excuse is “no deal.” The U.S., China and India, three of the world’s largest economies, trade with no deal. I’m proud that the majority of the British public were smart enough to see that the dots didn’t add up. The whole thing about no deal being a kind of Armageddon is complete fabrication”

TIM DUCE

“The EU is a country, but I’m not a United States of European. I’m British. I want us to be a self-governing entity”

MIKE SWADLING

Full article – https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-the-faces-of-brexit-leave-and-remain-supporters-reflect-on-three/

My tuppenceworth – A Free Speech event

The Croydon Constitutionalists are hosting a Free Speech event on Tuesday 19th November at the South Croydon Conservative Club.

You are the star!
Your opportunity to speak to those assembled on an issue that really matters to you and give your tuppenceworth. 

Each speaker will have up to 3 minutes to speak about an issue dear to their heart, followed by a short Q&A.  The evening will include a drinks break.

Come prepared or do off the cuff, this is your opportunity to exercise some free speech, but we do remind you the laws of slander still apply!

If you would like to speak please register by emailing [email protected].

7pm for drinks and sharp 7:30pm start.

South Croydon Conservative Club.
60 Selsdon Road. South Croydon. CR2 6PE.

https://leaversofbritain.co.uk/events/croydon-a-free-speech-event/

Interview with Jayde Edwards the Conservative Party Candidate for the Council by-election in Fairfield Ward

Jayde was a candidate in 2018 in Broad Green for the Conservatives and has appeared on the Victoria Derbyshire show, supporting the party. Jayde is a member of the Spacnation church which as prevailed her to be a voice in her community and use her passion in politics to make a change.

Always keen to speak to people in Croydon who support Brexit, because we voted to leave and they support and respect democracy. The Croydon Constitutionalists spoke to Jayde Edwards the Conservative Party Candidate for the Council by-election in Fairfield Ward.

Jayde thanks for your time.

This is your second time standing what should we know about you as potentially Croydon’s next councillor?

From a very young age I have been extremely passionate, talking about the issues that most affect young people. I was brought up in a broken home, my dad left when I was 12 years old and my mum suffered with mental health for the majority of my life. This really pushed me to be vocal about changing not only my life but the lives around me. 

In 2015 aged 15 I gave birth to a baby boy which was extremely difficult whilst living in Croydon and moving to about 8 different houses.  I was constantly consumed with so many issues that I just wanted to change and be able to protect those around me. 

“I knocked on a door and a women in her mid 30s answered the door, we spoke for about an hour about the issues she is facing in her area. What inspired me the most is that she said “Never stop pushing in politics, because we need you”

Broad Green is a tough spot for a Conservative candidate. Any stories from this or previous campaign trails that have stuck in your memory?

Broad Green will always be a place that I am extremely passionate about because I lived there in temporary accommodation with my son. It was a small room with only a bed, table and TV.  I understand the struggles that people living within the ward face, hence why I was so passionate about standing although I knew it was almost impossible. My heart is still in Broad Green and I will always do everything in my power to create a positive change in the area. 

A really good experience whilst I was knocking on a door in Broad Green,  was canvassing, I knocked on a door and a women in her mid 30s answered the door, we spoke for about an hour about the issues she is facing in her area. What inspired me the most is that she said “Never stop pushing in politics, because we need you”. 

Fairfield ward is changing rapidly what do you think are the key issues in the ward?

I am extremely honoured to be selected to stand in Fairfield and I agree that there are so many things changing in Fairfield. The main issues I would say are: 
– Westfield and the promise that was given to residents. 
– Knife crime and the lack of opportunities.

“want to inspire young people, I also want to bring something new to Croydon – a new passion and a new energy”

What are your thoughts more broadly on Croydon Politics?

I have always been interested in Croydon Politics because I have lived here since I was 12. I do believe more young people need to get more involved in politics, but also more young people need to understand what politics means and how local politics can actually affect them. I think that is partly why I am standing as a candidate – I want to inspire young people, I also want to bring something new to Croydon – a new passion and a new energy. 

There’s a new campaign for a Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon. What are your thoughts on this proposed change to the way Croydon is governed?

I think a council run by the Conservatives is the best way forward!  I do like that we have the opportunity to campaign for an elected mayor and I would love to see more young people going for these opportunities. 

Although you’re running for council the issue of the day is Brexit. What are your thoughts on the subject that divides Britain?

The main focus for me right now is the local issues in Croydon and how I can gain the trust of the residents in Fairfield. Although Brexit is important and I trust the government will ensure Britain is protected.  I choose focus on the local issues and how I can help change Fairfield. 

Jayde thank-you for the interview.

Jayde is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JaydeTEdwards

The Fairfield by election is on the 7th November.  If you’re in the ward make sure you vote. 

Something Rotten in the Heart of Sutton

Philip Sheppard writes about our neighbours in Sutton.

Sutton, a leafy borough in South-West London, overshadowed by its larger neighbour to the East, Croydon, and often forgotten about by most people who do not know our capital city well. Politically, this is probably London’s most interesting borough. It was one of the few boroughs to have voted to leave the European Union in 2016, but since 1986 has been run effectively as a one-party state by the most liberal enlightened party currently in British politics (not).

The “Liberal Democrats”, scarred from the 2015 defeat of their darling Paul Burstow in Sutton and Cheam, are covering up one of the biggest scandals in Sutton politics during their rule of over thirty years, namely the construction of a huge refuse incinerator by Viridor in the Beddington North ward, close to the border with Croydon. Despite huge local opposition (the Lib Dems lost three councillors in Beddington North in the 2018 Local Elections to anti-incinerator independents) and a cost of £205 million to the taxpayers of four South London boroughs (including our native Croydon), the construction of the incinerator still went ahead in 2015.

Evidence had emerged of deals being done behind the scenes by a former Liberal Democrat councillor, who had a special relationship with the former Viridor CEO Colin Drummond, whose company landed the approximately £1 billion contract to build it. John Drage was a lifelong friend of Drummond’s and is also one of Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake’s main sponsors, along with his wife, Elaine. Incredibly, in order to encourage local support for the incinerator, Viridor donated around £275,000 to the Holy Trinity Church in Wallington in 2015, representing the third highest donation for any religious building in the country at the time. This obviously failed to garner the support of any local people, including fellow Lib Dem councillors. The then-Beddington North Councillor, Nick Mattey said: “Residents in my ward have been questioning why Holy Trinity Church in the middle of Wallington should get more money than any project in Beddington.”

This link, combined with Brake’s previous opposition to incinerators and the fact that the Sutton-based environmental charity Ecolocal remained strangely silent about the incinerator and its potential impact meant that the incinerator could be constructed without much scrutiny (apart from at the local election in 2018).

All in all, this shows the rot that goes on in the Sutton administration, which should not be surprising given the sly nature of the Liberal Democrats nationally. The sooner we can kick these charlatans out, the better.

By A P Monblat – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0