With over 1.3 billion people and a GDP likely to overtake the UK’s in the next couple of years, India is a country we all need to take notice of.
An estimated 1.4 million British Indians live in the UK, and are classified as the largest visible ethnic group. With Brexit this is a huge market for Britain to trade with and with so many who are either Indian nationals or of Indian descent here, we have a huge opportunity.
We
speak to Nimit Shishodia about Indian politics and to get a flavour of the
Indian diaspora in the UK.
Nimit thanks for your time.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how
you came to be living and working in the UK?
I grew up in the suburbs of Delhi. After my engineering degree, I learnt
Japanese for two years. I was intended to go to Japan, but a Japanese company
in London had a requirement of bilingual network engineer and I landed in UK
and continued to stay here.
“it was great experience to interact with general public as a Conservative campaigner. I found Conservative party members generous, to the group and decent people”
You have become engaged in UK politics and campaigned for Seena Shah the Conservative candidate for Brentford & Isleworth in GE2019. How did you get involved in that?
We, the Mangalam group met Seena in a pub during her campaign and she asked us for help and we decided to support her. I was the ward coordinator for Syon and Brentford. We have done canvassing, door to door flyer distribution and road shows, it was great experience to interact with general public as a Conservative campaigner. I found Conservative party members generous, to the group and decent people.
You’re involved in organising India festivals with Mangalam in Hounslow. How did that come about and what sort of events do you do?
Mangalam is a non-profit organisation based in West
London and we primarily do Holi (Color) and Diwali (Fireworks) in March and
November, respectively.
I have joined the organisation in Oct 2018 and it has
been a great experience so far, with lot of community members and volunteers
Mangalam has exponentially grown in last year and supported politics.
“instead we followed the Mahatama Gandhi’s way of peace – calling the whole act as Gandhigiri. A lot joined on the day for the clean-up and we clearly sent the message out to the other side”
Last year you were recognised by the High Commission
for helping clean-up the building. How did that come about?
We came to know about the mess created around the High Commission of India (HCI). The Indian diaspora decided not to retaliate in the same way we felt the Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) protestors did to the High Commission, instead we followed the Mahatama Gandhi’s way of peace – calling the whole act as Gandhigiri (the practice of the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi). A lot joined on the day for the clean-up and we clearly sent the message out to the other side.
You have said before this was the first time you had
seen the diaspora of the various regions of India come together as one.
What do you think has changed?
I think it was about the country, when people saw what we felt was a threat from Pakistan and PoK protestors over Indian diaspora and HCI, London. People from all over the country united.
What was it like being in the High Commission and
most importantly did the High Commissioner serve Ferrero
Rocher?
We were treated well in the HCI and we have made so many contacts. Mangalam team was officially invited to dinner by a HCI Counsellor and our efforts were well respected and regarded by the Indian Government, making us feel proud. Time to time we are invited to various events at the HCI.
The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is in power in India and seem to be breaking the hold the Congress Party had for many years. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is depicted as a controversial figure over here, what are your thoughts on Modi?
Modi as a PM is a great leader for India, he thinks out
of box, work hard and committed to growth of country. He comes up with great ideas, but at times
with a poor execution plan.
“2019 is the first time I saw Indian diaspora supporting Conservatives at such scale, due to the Labour party’s anti-India propaganda”
How do you think the Indian diaspora in the UK generally view India’s domestic politics?
I feel the Indian Diaspora often get too involved in Indian politics, where as they should also indulge in UK politics, since we live here. 2019 is the first time I saw Indian diaspora supporting Conservatives at such scale, due to the Labour party’s anti-India propaganda.
Lastly with Britain having a more global focus away
from the EU, what do you see as the opportunities for our countries
collaboration over the coming decade?
UK as a country needs industries, small and bigger. With leaving the EU, this may be an opportunity to rebuild the country with a self-sufficient and self-sustainable model. I would really love to see British products exported all over the world, boosting the country’s economy.
Robert Ward Councillor for Selsdon and Addington Village, was first returned in local Croydon elections in 2018. He is a former engineer, decision analyst, and project manager. Robert wrote extensively for the now defunct Croydon Citizen, and is now writing for Conservative Home.
Robert thanks for your time.
Tell us a bit about your background.
My father was an electrician and my mother a school secretary. I’m the first in my family to go to university, or even be educated beyond the age of fifteen, thanks to the Butler Education Act of 1944, an expression by the way of One Nation Conservatism that transformed the education of the working class.
My
father was a life-long blue-collar Conservative but like many young people, I
was more left wing. I went to every political group at university except the
Conservatives. I wasn’t committed to any ideology; I was just curious. I got to
listen to Harold Wilson, Roy Jenkins and the less well-known Paul Foot of the
International Socialists, the forerunner of the Socialist Workers Party.
I
started work as a railway signal engineer but job prospects in the UK were poor
at the time so I took a job working for a French company in the Middle East. I
later joined Shell and an American oil company living and working in many
countries, coming back to the UK when my children got older. It was only after
I was made redundant that I took a serious look at politics.
“I was frustrated that so much of what I saw in the media was left-wing biased. There was no balance. Conservatives care as much as any, perhaps more, about equality of opportunity, helping the disadvantaged and generally making the world a better place”
We first came to know you as a writer for the Croydon Citizen. How did you get involved, and please tell us a bit about writing for it?
I
was frustrated that so much of what I saw in the media was left-wing biased.
There was no balance. Conservatives care as much as any, perhaps more, about
equality of opportunity, helping the disadvantaged and generally making the
world a better place. Yet the material online was all written from a left-wing
point of view, advocating left-wing solutions, many of which have failed over
and over again but still were being put forward for yet another try, doomed to
failure. Working people pay the price.
I
wanted to redress that balance and also present reasoned arguments on policies
about which I had no preconceived idea and had not made up my mind. Some of my
articles were less good than others, partly because I tried to produce something
on a regular basis, but I’m very glad I did it. The Croydon Citizen, and Tom
Black in particular, were very helpful.
We certainly feel Croydon misses the Citizen. What do you think is the future for local journalism here in Croydon?
I
agree. This is a tough question. Journalism costs money and people don’t want
to pay, and there is only so much advertising revenue. The Croydon Citizen gave
it as good a try as it was possible to do and it didn’t work. People think more
globally and seem to follow celebrities in large numbers via social media.
Political discussion is a minority pursuit especially given the continuing left-wing
media bias even though the majority of the population does not share that view.
I am not optimistic.
You also set up the Croydon Debate Club. How did that come about?
Although
the Croydon Citizen was a great way to present a different message, I thought
that constructive face to face discussion could be stimulating and rewarding
and that was equally missing. I therefore set up the Debate Club. I tried
different venues and formats. The audience varied from maybe ten people to more
than fifty. A celebrity speaker at a central Croydon location on a mid-week
evening was the most successful. Getting a good speaker and finding an
interesting subject was the challenge.
You had a famous meeting where Gavin Barwell spoke, and there were disturbances outside. Do you have any memories from that event?
That was an interesting evening. I remember you came along and were a great help, for which thank you again (Editor’s Note: Mike Swadling of this parish was accosted by and argued with a couple of thugs who tried to shutdown the meeting). Gavin was obviously a big draw, but up until that point the Debate Club had not attracted any extremists. I used Eventbrite to control attendance and I immediately saw with this meeting that there were some different names and a suspicious pattern of booking. I did a bit of internet research and found that both the far left and the far right had booked tickets, and not just one or two.
I
decided to withdraw their tickets and did so with what I thought was a
reasonably polite email. Both responded with abuse. I asked the local police to
patrol the area on the day. Some protestors showed up. I think they were
anarchists. Gavin and the audience all took it in their stride, although I
didn’t get to participate as well as I would have liked because I was concerned
about getting Gavin safely in and out of the meeting. Good fun in hindsight,
but rather stressful on the day.
“My vision is to see more local people working in local jobs and shopping in their local High Street. The long-term disruption of central Croydon, whether Westfield does or does not happen, is an opportunity for Selsdon”
You are now a councillor for Selsdon and Addington Village. What are the major challenges or opportunities for your ward?
I am
very fortunate to have been elected to represent Selsdon and Addington Village.
It is a strong community with great assets. The green spaces and the High
Street are the most obvious. The opportunity is to strengthen what is already
there and build connections between groups to enable coherent action. Croydon
Council wants every area of Croydon to have a Community Plan and I think that
is exactly right. I have been pushing this forward as fast as I can. It will be
the basis of what we do going forward. My vision is to see more local people
working in local jobs and shopping in their local High Street. The long-term
disruption of central Croydon, whether Westfield does or does not happen, is an
opportunity for Selsdon.
You live tweet from Council meetings and sometimes seem less than impressed. How do you find the chamber?
I
was never very impressed with Council meetings as an outsider. My opinion
hasn’t changed, and now I have to sit through it all. Councillors are not happy
either so there has been a recent review of governance. This won’t be a
game-changer but it will I think be an improvement.
“Say it softly but my biggest surprise was that a good number of the Labour Councillors are decent intelligent people who want similar things to me, albeit via a different route”
Has anything surprised you since becoming a councillor?
Say
it softly but my biggest surprise was that a good number of the Labour
Councillors are decent intelligent people who want similar things to me, albeit
via a different route. The committee that I chair is genuinely cross-party. We
all want the best for Croydon’s children and are determined to do all we can to
achieve that.
“I am concerned that it will just be used by Labour and others to give some pseudo-legitimacy for their usual complaining about the government whilst they themselves do little or nothing”
You have written for Conservative Home about Climate Change and the council’s committee. What do you think of the committee and what as a country we should be doing on climate change?
Climate
change is the big issue of our time. I have been relatively quiet about it
because I don’t like to express an opinion on a complex subject till I have
acquired a decent level of knowledge. I’ve been working on that on and off for close
to a year and I am now confident enough to express an opinion. I expect to
write again on the subject, along with others.
The
UK government has taken a leading role internationally, something for which it
does not get enough credit. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, the issue has
been hijacked by the usual far left suspects as a trojan horse for their
anti-capitalist ambitions. Locally I am supportive of real action by the
Council to make a measurable difference, but the Labour Council has set up a
group that is unrepresentative of public opinion. I am concerned that it will
just be used by Labour and others to give some pseudo-legitimacy for their
usual complaining about the government whilst they themselves do little or
nothing to make a difference on the Council’s carbon emissions.
“I believe constructive and robust dialogue leads to improved understanding and better solutions. Suppressing free speech hurts us all”
Writing at a time of Coronavirus it’s difficult to see ahead but what would you like to see from the new Government over the next few years?
We need to get through the pandemic and come out the other
side positively. Right now we have an invisible enemy to fight. Economy and
other matters are rightly taking a back seat. But we are building up an even
bigger debt mountain than we had already. Who knows where the economy might go?
The government needs to lead us in bouncing back. I think Boris is the man to
do that. He has done a great job so far and I think that will continue.
Brexit must be delivered. I thought that on balance Brexit
was the right choice but was not dogmatic. I thought we would be fine whether
we stayed in or left, although I had been concerned on the direction the EU was
taking for some years. Once the decision was taken then it had to be delivered.
I was disappointed that some MPs did all they could to prevent it. I think we
will see the upside quite soon if the government takes advantage of the opportunity.
I would particularly like the tide to be turned on the erosion of free speech. No platforming, especially at universities, is very concerning. As we have already talked about, I believe constructive and robust dialogue leads to improved understanding and better solutions. Suppressing free speech hurts us all.
Maureen Martin is (until they were postponed) a Greater London Assembly candidate for the Christian Parties Alliance (CPA). Maureen has run for parliament in Lewisham East in every election since 2015, which has included a by-election. The CPA is as you would suspect a Christian Party and also has a comprehensive manifesto that offers a full programme for Government. We have previously spoken with Candace Mitchell who stood for the CPA in Croydon North in GE2019. We spoke with Maureen about what led her to run or the CPA, her experiences running and their priorities for London.
Maureen thank-you for your time.
Could
you tell us a little about your background?
I am
a born and bred Londoner from South East London. I lived in Canada for 14
years between 1989-2003 where I became a born again Christian. It a very
valuable experience living in another culture who have a different world view
than most Europeans. North American’s are much more Patriotic on a whole.
I have been in property management/housing for the past 13 years which I
enjoy immensely. I am single with no children.
“Britain needs Christian values again, the moral decline must be stemmed. When government Legislation is a willing accomplice in the moral decline of our nation it is time to act”
What
lead you to be a candidate in the Greater London Assembly elections?
I have been a member of the Christian Peoples Alliance since about 2009 an active member since 2015 when I ran in my constituency in the GE representing the CPA. I have, since voting age been a very conscientious voter seeing it as my civic duty. Especially as a person of colour I honour those who sacrificed for me on two counts, being an ethnic minority and a woman, for me to be able to vote. Britain needs Christian values again, the moral decline must be stemmed. When government legislation is a willing accomplice in the moral decline of our nation it is time to act.
Some of our readers might not be familiar with the CPA. At a national level what are you key priorities?
Our priorities are clear: Support Marriage and the family, Respect life from conception to natural death. Protecting unborn babies is one of our key objectives, Make tax fair and care for the poor. We would end the scandal of the multinational corporations such as Facebook and Google avoiding Corporation tax by moving their profits abroad with a turnover tax to offset corporation tax. Also provide free shelters for the homeless. Fight Crime: support people leaving prison to lower re-offending rates. Also empower the police to do their job concerning the knife crime epidemic.
CPA General Election 2019 campaign video
You ran in Lewisham East by-election against David Kurten and Sean Finch who we have worked with. How did you find the experience?
It was a valuable experience I found David very friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation, in fact I agreed with just about everything he said. His focus the knife crime issue and how the current mayor had dealt with the growing problem. I like working with other candidates even if we have different views.
The police should have arrested the protesters and allowed the Hustings to take place. Free speech was hindered that day!
You were part of the by-election was the bazar and infamous hustings that the police closed down. (Watch on YouTube) What are you memories from that day?
This was quite bazaar. I had to be escorted into the building by two police persons because of the human blockade. There was a great deal of jostling, thankfully I was able to get into the building, some of my CPA party members did not gain access. The police should have arrested the protesters and allowed the Hustings to take place. Free speech was hindered that day!
“Another major issue being ignored by this administration is homelessness which in London is quite clearly on the increase”
The GLA and Mayor have key duties on Transport and Policing. What are your priorities for London?
The CPA priorities would be to tackle knife crime, this is a scourge in our communities and must be met head on with a comprehensive plan which this mayoral administration has failed to do. Another major issue being ignored by this administration is homelessness which in London is quite clearly on the increase and of course this links into the London Housing crisis, which again the CPA will address with a comprehensive housing policy outlined in our manifesto.
Any thoughts you would like to leave us with?
London needs a fresh approach, new ideas that are creative and innovative. If the same old parties are continually given the reigns of control in government the result for the electorate will be mush of the same, ineffective unproductive policies that often just waste money and yield very little results.
GLA Member David Kurten was elected as part of the UKIP list in 2016, he now sits as part of the Brexit Alliance. He has stood for UKIP leadership, been the party Education spokesperson, and ran in the 2018 Lewisham East by-election and in Bognor Regis & Littlehampton in the 2019 general election. David has a local connection to Croydon, working as a teacher at the Royal Russell School. David has also spoken at two of the Croydon Constitutionalists’ events, discussing Britain’s Opportunities outside the EU, and Freedom of speech.
David is now running as an Independent Candidate for the Mayor of London and London Assembly.
David thanks for your time.
“I’m very much an outsider against the progressive hegemony which rules politics in the UK and especially in London”
You have been in the GLA for the last 4 years holding Sadiq Khan to account. How’s that experience been, and what do you make of Mayor Khan’s tenure?
It has been tough as I’m very much an outsider against the
progressive hegemony which rules politics in the UK and especially in London. I
have stated that the housing crisis in London is the result of over-demand
caused by mass, rapid immigration, called for a no-deal Brexit and supported
President Trump, and have got a lot of flak for doing so. Mayor and Khan are
two words which should not really exist together: he has been a terrible Mayor
concerned with virtue signalling and self-publicity while presiding over a huge
increase in violent crime which is spiralling out of control.
As well as talking at a couple of the Croydon Constitutionalists events you have taught in Croydon. What are your memories of the town, and what do you see as the major issues today?
I taught Chemistry at Royal Russell School between 2001 and 2003.
Croydon now seems completely unrecognisable with all the new skyscrapers which
have gone up over the last 10 years. It seems to have lost its small-town
suburban feel, and become a place which is far more transient with fewer people
who have a connection or roots in the town. This is a malaise which many places
are suffering from, especially in outer London – as people move out or are
priced out, they are replaced by new people who are not rooted in the town and
it loses its character and sense of community.
Your career has taken you to Botswana, Bosnia-Herzegovina, New York and Bermuda. Any favourite places or weird experiences?
I loved Botswana for its sense of space. It is a huge country
twice the size of France with fewer than 2 million people there. Thus it is
amazing for wildlife, especially in the parks, although once my car nearly got
crushed by a rhino who was not looking where he was going!
“people will have the choice to vote for someone pro-Brexit, pro-Trump and anti-woke if they want to”
What made you choose to stand as an Independent for Mayor?
I’m standing in both the Mayor and Assembly elections in May 2020.
I got actively involved in politics in 2012 because I wanted to leave the EU,
and also to stand up to the suffocating culture of political correctness. We
have now left the EU Parliament and Commission and we will leave the Single
Market and Customs Union on 31st December, although there is
still much to do to ensure that we do not just leave in name only on 31st December.
There is still a great need to restore common sense to the country
in the face of ‘woke culture’ which is becoming more bizarre and insane every
week. None of the other parties who have put forward a candidate will restore
common sense – they are all part of the problem – so I decided to stand as an
independent so that people will have the choice to vote for someone pro-Brexit,
pro-Trump and anti-woke if they want to.
The role of Mayor has significant powers over Transport and Policing what are your priorities in these areas?
We need an end to politically correct policing. The job of the
police is to catch criminals and lock them up. Police need to use stop and
search as a tool to find and catch criminals who are carrying knives, machetes
and guns – there is no excuse for this. Stop and search needs to be targeted at
the people who are most likely to be the perpetrators of these crimes, i.e.
young, black men, who are also disproportionately the victims as well. Stop and
search is not pleasant but it will cut crime and make London safer.
The current Mayor wants to expand the ULEZ charging zone up to the
north and south circular roads, meaning that millions of vehicles will be
caught by an extra £12.50 per day. I disagree with this and would not expand
the ULEZ charging zone.
London’s roads have been clogged up by cycle superhighway
construction on main roads. I would call an immediate end to building cycle
superhighways on main roads, and return some of them to motor vehicles where
possible.
Crossrail must be finished with no more delay, but I am opposed to
HS2. The huge amount of money that HS2 needs could fund hundreds of projects
all over the country, including some in London like the Bakerloo line extension
and Tramlink extension in Sutton.
“Mass, rapid immigration has caused unsustainable demand for housing, especially in London where the population has increased by 2 million in the last 20 years”
What other areas would you like to focus on as Mayor?
London needs more affordable housing, but new homes should be
built in a way which is sensitive to the existing historical character of the
neighbourhoods they are built in. However, no amount of new homes will solve
the current housing crisis until the underlying issues are addressed:
Mass, rapid immigration has caused unsustainable demand for housing, especially in London where the population has increased by 2 million in the last 20 years.
Help to Buy has artificially inflated house prices; it needs to end.
Right to Buy has devastated council housing stocks so there are far fewer affordable homes available – it needs either to end, or be reformed so that Right to Buy homes are sold at market price and councils are able to re-invest the money into building or purchasing new housing stock.
How can people get involved in your campaign?
My website – www.davidkurten.net – has more details of my policies, a sign-up form to get involved and a crowdfunding page. Please have a look!
We talk to Mal McDermott of the Libertarian Party about Libertarianism and how the Party would tackle issues such as knife crime. We also discuss Irish politics, the upcoming General Election in the Republic and Brexit.
Croydon Councillor Jeet Bains stood in the arguably safe Labour seat of Luton North in the recent General Election. He first became a councillor in 2010 in the then Coulsdon West ward. In 2018 he campaigned in Addiscombe East and split the ward with Labour’s Councillor Maddie Henson winning the other seat, a somewhat surprising result written about in ConservativeHome.
Jeet thank-you for your time..
How did you find it being a Parliamentary rather council candidate, what were the big differences?
It
was an honour to be the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Luton North. I
absolutely loved it, so much so that I felt this is what I was born to do – not
a feeling one often gets. For me, every minute was a joy. Whether it was
pounding the streets for hours on end delivering leaflets, talking to people outside
shops, being praised, receiving abuse, answering questions on radio stations,
debating at hustings, going to different places of worship and community centres
– I thoroughly enjoyed it. I made good friends – some stayed by my side day-in
and day-out. There were the Sikh businessmen, the Kashmiri radio hosts, the
Irish construction guys, the Afro-Caribbean church community…innumerable and
wonderful community members. It is an experience like no other. I’ve been
thinking about why I liked it so much. My wife says it’s because I like being
the centre of attention…
As a
council candidate, the issues are obviously very local – streets, planning,
bins etc. Many people do, however, vote according to the national picture even
in a local council election. In fact we come across many people who aren’t
aware that the local council is controlled by Labour – they just assume that,
because the Conservatives are in power nationally, that the Conservatives
therefore run the council too.
Running for Parliament is different. I found that people are
much more engaged and passionate. The issues are also on a wider scale: I received
questions about nuclear disarmament, abortion, euthanasia, the environment, and
the NHS. I also attended several hustings, community meetings and was
interviewed by local and BBC Radio.
In short, running for Parliament is more intense, and I enjoyed this.
“Throughout the campaign, I felt that in this election the electorate had a clear choice between a Marxist agenda from Labour and an economy-boosting agenda from the Conservatives”
What
led to you being a candidate in Luton North? What were the big issues in
the area?
To
stand for Parliament in the Conservative Party, you must be an approved
candidate. Being one, I was asked to stand in Luton North.
Luton
suffers from higher than average poverty levels, and so for me an emphasis on
improving the economy and generating jobs was important. I made the case that
getting more companies and government departments/agencies to locate in Luton
would create more jobs. This would lead to people having more money in their
pockets and feeling better about their lives, and there would be a beneficial
effect for the local economy. This was in contrast to my Labour opponent who
emphasised public spending and advocated scrapping Universal Credit. Throughout
the campaign, I felt that in this election the electorate had a clear choice
between a Marxist agenda from Labour and an economy-boosting agenda from the
Conservatives. This was quite different to recent elections in which people
would complain that there wasn’t much difference between the parties.
Housing was another big issue in Luton, as more people are coming to locate there from other areas. The experience I have of dealing with this issue in Croydon was very useful. People also felt that they were waiting too long for GP appointments, so this was an area on which I was particularly committing to focus.
We’re
sure you’re pleased with the overall election result. What do you hope to
see the government deliver on?
It
was a great night for the Conservatives. The Great British Public utterly
rejected Corbyn and his hard Left agenda and, frankly, saved the country. I met
people who aren’t usually very interested in politics but, on this occasion,
were quite appalled at the prospect of Corbyn in No. 10. The Prime Minister,
Boris Johnson, has committed to getting Brexit done, levelling up investment
across the nation, and investing much more in health and education. I think
this is absolutely right, and I know the government will deliver.
More broadly, the country now has that great benefit of the first-past-the-post system, viz. a clear majority. Gone is the previous deadlock in Parliament, and with it the endless gloom propagated by those that refused to accept the result of the referendum. There is an air of positivity and energy to get things done. I think we will see quite a transformation in the country. In particular, I think there is a permanent shift of political loyalties that has occurred, for example in many northern constituencies. I worry, however, about how it is that some of our younger generation have been convinced that the solutions to their very valid concerns lie in Marxism. I hope the government gives attention to re-making the case for capitalism.
You
used to represent Coulsdon West and are now in Addiscombe East. What are the
similarities and differences between the two wards?
Coulsdon
West was larger, with the usual three councillors representing the ward.
Addiscombe East is smaller and thus has two councillors. It’s interesting that
in Coulsdon West there was just one Residents’ Association for the whole ward,
which is quite normal, whereas in Addiscombe East we are blessed with four!
In
Coulsdon West there are family homes in the main, and the issues I dealt with
there were chiefly around planning, building control, and traffic and parking
in Coulsdon Town. I was also involved in the Cane Hill development – a fine
example of Conservatives providing housing of various kinds, in contrast to the
Labour council policy of wantonly permitting highly inappropriate developments in
existing streets.
Addiscombe East has a greater variety of housing and, I guess with it being a marginal ward and in the Croydon Central parliamentary constituency, the politics is a little more intense. A long running issue, and quite jarring to local residents, has been traffic flows on local streets. An historic decision to make certain roads one way in neighbouring Addiscombe West has resulted in a wholly unequal distribution of traffic on neighbouring roads. In essence, Elgin Road is now flooded with traffic night and day, whereas the residents of Canning Road in Addiscombe West benefit from hearing the birds chirping and their children playing safely in the street. All sensible people agree that this is an anomaly, but the fact that Labour control the Council and all the councillors in Addiscombe West are Labour has nothing at all to do with this sad problem remaining unresolved.
“in Addiscombe East. We focus on helping and making a difference to local residents rather than fighting over our political differences. I think local people quite like this arrangement”
Addiscombe
East is the Boroughs only split ward. How do you find representing an
area with a Councillor of a different party?
It actually works well. I get on well with Maddie Henson, the Labour councillor here, and we keep things friendly and cordial. I have heard that in the past where there has been a split ward, the councillors from different political parties barely spoke to one another. It’s not like that in Addiscombe East. We focus on helping and making a difference to local residents rather than fighting over our political differences. I think local people quite like this arrangement.
What
are your thoughts more generally on Croydon politics?
Croydon
is a great town with huge potential. I think Croydon has been let down by the
Labour-run council. The town centre has declined, major employers have left,
Westfield is nowhere to be seen, and
Labour have a quite deliberate policy of allowing highly unsuitable residential
developments (mostly small flats) in the middle of streets with family homes. Everyone
was hoping for some positive news from the redevelopment of Fairfield Halls,
but even that looks to have been botched, and there are complaints arising
about where and how the money has been spent.
All of
this means that there is a lot for politicians to address. The case needs to be
made to local people on which party can best solve these problems. My focus
would be on attracting employers to Croydon, providing jobs to people so that
they feel responsible and can look after their families. I also want to see a
relentless focus on improving the standard of our schools, so that our children
have the springboard for getting good jobs.
I think a directly elected mayor could make difference, because the Council is patently failing. Let’s take a tangible example. The government announced a £28.8bn National Roads Fund and an increase to the National Productivity Investment Fund so that it totals £37 billion. I’m not aware that either the Croydon North MP or the Croydon Central MP have made any efforts to have some of these funds come to Croydon. In contrast, Chris Philp, the Croydon South MP, has made herculean efforts in, for instance, getting funding allocated to improve the Brighton-London rail line so that Croydon passengers benefit. This is the kind of thing that a directly elected mayor can really boost.
“We have a great tradition of being free to hear all sides of an argument make their cases robustly, and we shouldn’t lose this. Shouting that the end is nigh is, I suggest, counter-productive”
On
Twitter you have expressed some concern with the doom mongering of the
environmental lobby. What sensible action do you think we should be taking on
the environment?
I
think that people don’t respond well to doom mongering, and there is an adverse
reaction to endless lectures. At the same time, most people want to do the
right thing and be environmentally friendly. If we look at how the world came
together to tackle the ozone layer issue, that is an excellent example of how
people made conscious buying decisions which stopped the ozone layer being
damaged. Similarly, the government’s measures on charging for plastic bags in
shops and the ban on the sale of products containing microbeads are
measures that make a real difference. The government has also committed to
achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. That may seem a long way off but
it is realistic and achievable. In contrast Labour was talking about reaching
net zero by 2030 – something that even the GMB union refused to support.
I
think the key is to be realistic and help people to do the right thing –
because, most of the time, they want to. I also think we’re not hearing serious
dissenting voices, such as Lord Matt Ridley who presents data and questions some
of the conclusions that we are asked to accept. We have a great tradition of being
free to hear all sides of an argument make their cases robustly, and we
shouldn’t lose this. Shouting that the end is nigh is, I suggest,
counter-productive. Also, walking along the top of tube trains in Canning Town
is probably best avoided.
Any
other thoughts you would like to leave us with?
Politics
is important and (as apparently Charles de Gaul said) it’s too important to be
left to the politicians. I’m encouraged by the increasing engagement in
politics by young people. It doesn’t matter which party you join or what your
cause is, it’s good to be involved in matters that affect you and your
community. I am worried, however, that someone who was utterly unfit to be
Prime Minister was one step away from achieving it. It is important that we
look at how it is that the hard Left ideology, long ago rejected as damaging to
society, has reared its ugly head again.
Finally, a word about social media. Its ability to amplify and to distort is something that we are just beginning to understand. Our greatest minds will need to be brought together to wrestle with this problem. Anonymous accounts, fake news, false utterances with no consequence – freedom and liberty need armour against them.
Always keen to support people in Croydon prepared to support democracy and
Brexit. The Croydon Constitutionalists spoke with Croydon South Conservative
Chris Philp.
He first became the MP for Croydon South in the May 2015 election. Chris has also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Ministry of Justice.
I spent 15 years setting up and running my own businesses before being first
elected in 2015. I was used to making decisions and getting things done quickly. I thought we had too many career politicians
in Parliament and I wanted to see
more people there with real-world experience who can get things done. So I decided to run myself – first, as a local councillor and
then for Parliament. MPs are able to make changes that impact the day to day lives
of people throughout the United Kingdom and also help those who need it most in
our society. But to achieve this, you need to be able to get things
done.
You first ran for parliament against Glenda Jackson CBE in Hampstead and Kilburn any memories from that campaign?
The result in Hampstead was one of the closest
election results in the country in 2010. I lost by just 42 votes,
despite pretty much doubling the Conservative vote (accounting for boundary
changes). Having lost by 42 votes, I’ve been
trying hard to forget that election ever since…
“I remember going to Panto at the Fairfield Halls when I was growing up. I also remember using the 119 bus a lot and I remember sitting the Trinity entrance exam”
You grew up in West Wickham, what are your
memories of neighbouring Croydon from then?
I remember going to Panto at the Fairfield Halls
when I was growing up. I also remember using the 119 bus a lot and I remember
sitting the Trinity entrance exam some time during the winter of 1986/7. I did
not get a full scholarship which my parents were hoping for, so went to a
Grammar School in a neighbouring Borough instead.
You campaigned for Remain in the referendum and your father has stood for UKIP. Can we ask how were relations at the Philp family Christmas?
There were some robust discussions, but in the end I believe in democracy
and the Leave side won. So we must
respect that result and get on with implementing it.
What are your hopes for Brexit now?
I believe that it is important to ensure that we
deliver on the result of the 2016 referendum. The revised deal Boris has
negotiated respects the referendum result, and also protects trade. We need to
pass that as quickly as possible. The uncertainty has gone on for too long and
we need to implement the referendum and all move on.
“Croydon’s Labour Council has shown that it has no interest in working for those in the South of the Borough… no regard for our already strained infrastructure or the character of our area”
What do you think are the big issues in Croydon
Politics?
Croydon’s Labour Council has shown that it has no interest in working for those in the South of the Borough by the way in which it approves virtually every planning application put before the committee, with no regard for our already strained infrastructure or the character of our area. This is also why I am supporting the campaign for a Directly Elected Mayor of Croydon, who would then have to listen to the whole Borough in order to get (re)elected.
If returned to parliament what priorities would
you like to take forward?
The NHS is a huge priority. We have just had a brand new A&E at Croydon
Hospital (Mayday) and Purley Hospital Minor Injuries Unit / GP Hub opens in the
morning 365 days a year, following a successful campaign I ran with residents.
I want as many as possible of the 50,000 extra nurses and 6,000 GPs to come to
Croydon. I fully support the 20,000 extra Police, and also want as many of
these as possible to come to Croydon – I estimate that over 100 will. I will
also campaign to end the persecution of Christians in many countries around the
world, and to get more funding for Croydon schools – we are getting a huge 7%
increase next year alone.
“The choice in all three Croydon seats is between the Conservatives and a Labour party that has been taken over by Marxists”
Any other thoughts you want to leave us with?
This election is the most important in a generation. We need to end the Brexit uncertainty by delivering on the referendum result as fast as possible. Labour and the Lib Dems (and a small number of former Conservatives) have been delaying us too long now. The choice in all three Croydon seats is between the Conservatives and a Labour party that has been taken over by Marxists. A vote for any other party – Brexit Party, Lib Dems, UKIP, Green – risks letting Corbyn and McDonnell into power. Only the Conservatives can stop him. I also hope my record as an active, energetic and above all effective local MP speaks for itself.
Always keen to support people in Croydon prepared to support Brexit. The Croydon Constitutionalists spoke to Candace Mitchell of the Christian Parties Alliance candidate in Croydon North.
Formed in 1999 the Christian Parties Alliance is a coming together of the Christian Party and the Christian Peoples Alliance. With members come from all backgrounds and church traditions. The 2017 Manifesto supported Brexit including “to be prepared to walk away from the EU”. They supported the end of fractional reserve banking to reduce debt and want to “rebuild favourable trading relationships with any country in the world that wants to join with us in doing so to our mutual benefit provided they do not have an unacceptable human rights record”. As you would expect from a Christian Party they have some more traditional policies including a plan to “Restore a pro-life ethic across the NHS so that every member of staff is doing their best to assist the healing of a patient and where life is coming to an end” and “to support marriage and family life to reverse the domestic de-population trend”.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what first got
you involved in politics?
I am a local resident in the Croydon North constituency (which includes Thornton Heath, Upper Norwood, South Norwood, Selhurst Norbury), a former school teacher, a Youth & Charity Worker, founder of RevolutionChange, an international speaker and a professional transformational life coach who is passionate and has a heart to see positive change impact this great nation. Over the years, I served as a Community change agent representing the youth and also where I campaigned for the homeless and anti-trafficking; standing up for families, single parents, mentoring young people and children. I fought for Change and my core belief is that “To make a difference, you must BE the difference. So change begins with me.”
I host workshops, conferences and seminars for the young to elderly, and to dynamically empower women. Strategy is important and with the right effective plan of action, every one, young and old, can affect change in their personal worlds. This is the change that will inherently change a nation and we need you all. Since 2015, more politically I have been interested in and standing up for things that are important to our community and country and it has been and continues to be an honour to do so! I’ve seen many great successes of lives been turned around and this is just the beginning! I look forward to all that’s to come and intend on giving my very best to my constituency.
How did you find yourself selected as the candidate for Croydon
North?
In recent years, since 2016, I have linked and connected with the CPA Party Leader, Sid Cordle, a dynamic key politician, author & strategist determined to restore Britain. I was delighted to be selected to stand for Croydon North, a constituency that bustles with the heart of this nation, diversity! This resonates so deeply with me as it is my passion to see many peoples come together as one to live as a thriving community. And I believe this is the heartbeat of Croydon North. When people come together, we can change a community, a city, a nation!
“Understandably the unknown is oftentimes scary. But we have come to a point in the political atmosphere where something’s got to give. A party that is brave and courageous enough to go against the political fear tactics and status quo!”
How do you find the experience of the campaign trail (have you
run anywhere else)?
Walking around and getting to know one on one and hearing the hearts and views of you all in Croydon North has been such a great journey! We definitely are a people of diversity and a myriad of colours that bring culture and all things British into celebrating our nation. I’ve found many voters stick to conservative & labour because it’s the ones they know. Some don’t even know the underpinning views of the party or why they vote for them but because it’s the popular choice, they go with it. But look at the state of our nation being in the hands of these two parties. The time has come for a change. It’s going to take something different! Understandably the unknown is oftentimes scary. But we have come to a point in the political atmosphere where something’s got to give. A party that is brave and courageous enough to go against the political fear tactics and status quo! CPA is that party and I am that person to stand with you the people of Croydon North constituency. It’s time for change.
Any surprises you found running any stories from the campaign
trail?
Many surprises, yes! But the best stories so far, have been in just spending time with residents and hearing your views. I’ve been pleasantly and warmly invited in your homes to have a chat and just share and exchange views. This community of Croydon North has so much to offer and give not only locally but even by wider impact. We have so much to learn from each other and put all our thoughts together to affect positive change. We would love for more people to join and support however you can. You don’t have to disqualify yourself from politics any longer. We need real people with real hearts, stories and passion. If you are passionate about making a difference then please get in touch with us or myself directly at [email protected]
Manpower is always welcomed. Let’s increase our reach and get involved Croydon North. We are a open community. So, Let’s unite and stand together, stronger!
What are your thoughts on Croydon Politics?
With the many diverse issues in the constituency, for critical focus, Croydon has always been a hub of bustling youth & It is known for the elevated young offenders and knife crime. This is at the forefront of our focus and aim in fighting crime. With many years experience working with youth personally, I believe we the CPA can start to implement from foundation level and work on the family construct to get to the root of the issue. Youth crime is a by-product of family breakdown and seeing to this issue will undoubtedly affect positive change, reduce the young offending statistics and turn things around systemically. Things aren’t getting better because we’re so busy fire-fighting when we should be getting to the root of things and implementing forward-focus, motivation, goal direction workshops and courses for young people to engage in to find their purpose and fulfilment. I will be strategising and implementing such transformational avenues for the youth of our constituency, as I believe this will bring tangible results and reduce the youth & knife crime rates significantly.
What’s next for the Christian Parties Alliance, how do you see
them making a breakthrough?
We the CPA Party are committed and determined to be the voice for the voiceless. We fervently beleive that we have the best policies for the nation and that everyone in time will see this. Because we genuinely care about the wellbeing of a nation and not just fire-fighting issues but rather getting to the root of the problem, we are a party you can trust to have your best interest at heart. We are not a party of quick-fixes and minimal effort. We are a party that knows this is going to take hard work, strategic action, much heart, and incredible effort! We are ready! The good news is that as well as being committed, and determined, we are laser-focused in our mission and manifesto and most importantly, in what may seem a very bleak-looking atmosphere in our nation right now, we are filled with hope! Hope cannot be lost at this critical time. We are positive that with a solid, clear and strategically sound manifesto as ours, we will see breakthrough, positive change and a restoration of the heart and soul of Britain!
The issue of the day is Brexit. What are your personal
thoughts on the subject that divides Britain?
Great Britain has always been exactly that – a GREAT country of immeasurable honour and heritage, and we want to bring respect and honour back to our very strong nation. Our stance on Brexit is an Honour Democracy.
We
need to honour the democratic will of the British people and get Brexit done.
That means we must honour the 2016 Referendum result and leave the EU
completely. We will offer a second Brexit referendum five to ten years after
we’ve left completely when there is evidence of what has happened. I
believe we can make a success of leaving the EU. We can’t predict the future
but we can plan for it. Time will tell how this unfolds, and if needs be, there
must be a simple mechanism in place for returning (the referendum). This will
unite the nation.
We have faith in Britain’s ability to thrive as an independent
nation with new international trade deals. The referendum 5 – 10 years after
we’ve left completely is to ensure the country can be brought back together
when there is evidence of however performed outside the EU.
“Aside from the human cost, family breakdown has been estimated to cost the taxpayer £48 billion per year. No other party will address this issue’.”
If you introduce or repeal 3 laws (other than for Brexit) what
would they be?
1. PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN
We stand on strong pro-life platform and we pledge to restore full legal protection to unborn children while diverting more than £200 million of taxpayers’ money spent each year on funding abortions here and abroad into supporting any mother in a crisis pregnancy situation.
It
is painful to note that within election campaign period alone an average of 598
babies will lose their lives to abortion in the UK, with over 9 million lives
lost altogether as a result of the 1967 Abortion Act. This is a national
tragedy — we have to have the courage to face this issue and look for
compassionate alternatives.”
2. MAKE TAX FAIR AND CARE FOR THE POOR
We’d end the scandal of big multi-national companies (eg. Facebook, Google, Starbucks) sending their UK profits abroad in order to avoid paying their fair share of tax.By introducing a Turnover Tax (of 5%), offset against Corporation Tax, we’d address the disadvantage faced by British businesses. This would raise an estimated £32bn, which we’d use to halve commercial rates to revive our city centres (£11.5bn), pay for our family policies (£4bn) and restore the £12bn in Tory benefit cuts by properly funding Universal Credit. We would help everyone sleeping rough with a free night shelter, meal and the right support to get back into society.
3. SUPPORT MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY
The
CPA will support marriage and the family with a £12,000 grant to first-time
married couples and £6,000 upon the birth of their first child, provided they
go for at last 5 marriage preparation sessions.
“Aside from the human cost, family breakdown has been estimated to cost the taxpayer £48 billion per year. No other party will address this issue’.” The CPA’s marriage and first-child grant (costing £4 billion) and other key policies would be funded by the introduction of a turnover tax of five per cent, offset against corporation tax, which is intended to stop big multinational companies sending their UK profits abroad in order to cut down their tax bill.This would raise an estimated £32 billion.
“CPA is NOT exclusively for Christians. This is a core value and moral-standing issue and I believe that many people from different faiths or none at all can unite with me in our solid values and stand for the good of a nation”
Any other thoughts you want to leave us with?
I am proudly British and a definition of diversity which is one of the striking characteristics of our constituency. I am approachable and a strong advocate for things I believe in. I want to continue fighting for our families and community as I did and continue to in London over the many years. I ask all residents to vote for me to be a strong voice for us all in Parliament.
I strongly believe that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. CPA is NOT exclusively for Christians. This is a core value and moral-standing issue and I believe that many people from different faiths or none at all can unite with me in our solid values and stand for the good of a nation. Thank you Croydon North! Align with the core values of our party and vote for us. We need you! There is HOPE, Britain! We can make a difference because we, Croydon north, are the difference!
Always keen to support people in Croydon prepared to support democracy and
Brexit. The Croydon Constitutionalists spoke with Donald Ekekhomen, the
Conservative Party Candidate for Croydon North.
On Donald’s twitter account he describes himself as a Conservative, Pharmacist, Entrepreneur.
Christian, keen on positive community action, and a Crystal Palace fan.
He stood in Waddon for the Conservatives in the 2018 local elections in what
was widely recognised as a hard fought campaign.
Croydon North is currently held by anti-democracy MP Steve Reed OBE.
Donald thank-you for your time.
What led
to you being picked as the candidate for Croydon North?
After the disappointment of the last local elections, it’s terrible to see the devastation that Croydon’s Labour Council continues to do to our local communities. At the same time, there is the increase in stabbings in Croydon that’s very worrying. Everyone I talk to in church, work or at football are always talking about this. It’s causing a lot of uneasiness in the community with parents afraid for their teenage children. That prompted me to avail myself of the rigorous screening process to be the Conservative candidate for Croydon North.
“to someone who has lived through an authoritarian regime, that was exceptional by the MP and his office. It simply says the MP is concerned about the welfare of his constituents and cares enough to help them fulfil their aspirations”
What
first got you into politics.
I am an immigrant who came to the UK to study and got a job on
completion of my studies to provide NHS pharmaceutical services as a
pharmacist. As one who works in a lot of pharmacies as a locum in and around
Croydon, I get to participate in conversations about governance, taxes etc. In
one of these conversations, a pharmacy owner explained to me activities that
led her to open her pharmacy. She said that she was able to get the local MP at
the time to help officially open the premises. Now that might seem normal but to someone who
has lived through an authoritarian regime, that was exceptional by the MP and
his office. It simply says the MP is concerned about the welfare of his
constituents and cares enough to help them fulfil their aspirations. That MP
was Gavin Barwell; the erstwhile Conservative MP for Croydon Central.
In my job and through voluntary activities, it is clear that there are lots of issues facing local people; education, school expulsion, NHS, housing, immigration, crime, jobs etc and I believe being part of a political party will help me try to resolve these issues by enacting laws and lobbying government in order to make a difference to the lives of these people and more.
“Having them believe that someone is there to help when they are challenged is a very powerful statement of confidence in our community and abilities”
Any story
from Waddon or other campaign trails that have stuck in your memory?
While on the campaign trail, a lot of things really excited me, gave me a buzz. People are deeply concerned about their local environment and are willing to do what they can to protect it. However, a particular incident remains in my memory: during our campaign there was an old church hall that already had a planning application submitted to convert it to blocks of residential flats. However, this old church had provided valuable service to the community as it is used as a nursery space for young children and on weekends, used as a place for meetings and parties/celebrations for locals. It forms the nucleus of the community and also retains the old architecture which celebrates the history of the place and in consonance with other buildings in the area. When I went canvassing in the area, it was the most important issue for residents but they needed help and advice on how to oppose it. We sprung to action and helped the residents oppose the planning application using dexterity and with the knowledge of how to do this. Eventually, this was stopped and the building was saved. The joy on the faces of the residents when we went back was a sight to behold. I felt happy to have been a part of this process: making people smile, happy and comfortable in their local environment. Having them believe that someone is there to help when they are challenged is a very powerful statement of confidence in our community and abilities.
What is
your favourite Crystal Palace memory?
I love sports especially football and know it is an important part of keeping our physical and mental health in the best shape especially now with how fast and complex our lives are. It is a tool for creating firm structure for young people to learn about discipline, respect and teamwork while improving their social skills, friendships and broadening their aspirations.
The FA cup final in 2016 is one I still think about today. The run to the final was exceptional and the team did this with real determination while scraping through some games. I felt that was a given and that gut feeling was consolidated when Jason Puncheon scored the first goal in the final. That was the most delirious I have ever been!!!
It was disappointing the team lost eventually but they showed
really courage; working together, challenging every ball and giving it their
all. I was very proud of the boys!!
Crystal Palace football club is involved in a lot of wonderful local projects for poor communities which help disadvantaged locals to get on in life. Some of these partnerships I am involved with as a trustee. This off the field activity is awesome.
What are
your thoughts on Croydon politics?
Croydon politics is in a terrible state currently. Where do
I start!
We have a group of Labour Party councillors running the council and not delivering on their last local election promises. The Labour council do not collect bins weekly as promised, they do not listen to residents’ complaints but rather make it difficult for residents to pass on their legitimate concerns. Council chamber question time is fraught with verbose replies, residents only have 30 minutes to ask questions during full council meetings that sit just a few times in the year!!! How is that listening to the residents?
This is your first time as a parliamentary candidate, has anything come as a surprise from making that step?
I always expected it to be intense, changing its course almost every other day with changing campaign priorities. However, the amount of energy needed to keep on the campaign trail and answer emails from a lot of people who expect responses very quickly, has been enormous. Regardless, I am enjoying every bit of it especially meeting people on their doorsteps and talking to them about their concerns and priorities.
“The current system of offenders getting up to five suspended sentences could be too lenient and doesn’t feel like justice for the victims of crime”
If you
introduce or repeal three laws (other than Brexit), what would they be?
Reducing the number of suspended sentences given to people
who commit serious crime to three and increasing the length of their stay in
prison. I would go further to make serious offenders serve three quarters of
their term before they are due for parole. The current system of offenders
getting up to five suspended sentences could be too lenient and doesn’t feel
like justice for the victims of crime. The Conservative government is investing
in the prison services to train, educate and give ex-offenders the skills
needed to be more productive in the wider society which is the duty of any
responsible government.
More investment in schools in line with inflation to help recruit
and train more teachers. Teachers that
will spend more time with disruptive youngsters and help improve their chances
at learning to attain a degree at university, get into apprenticeships or learn
other job skillsets. This will help to reduce exclusions, foster cohesion and
improve life chances of disadvantaged young people. On the societal scale it will help reduce
crime, help with social mobility and improve positive community participation.
Currently, the Government has promised increased funding per pupil in schools
and has been doing that for over 10 years, incrementally. This is an indication
that it is taking it seriously but much more will be greatly appreciated.
The Help to Buy scheme has seen record numbers of people and young families being able to afford a home. I want to see such schemes encouraged further and expanded to help a lot more people get onto the property ladder.
Any other thoughts you want to leave us with?
The UK is currently the second best country in Europe for business start-ups. I would want the current government fund provision for tech start-ups to continue into the post Brexit years ahead. It is vital that we encourage people with digital intelligence to continue to contribute to the digital space and create the next Facebook, Google or Amazon of this world.
