Putting Croydon First

Labour: fighting for you across Croydon

Croydon Cons retreat

At Monday nights Full Council meeting on 17 October, Croydon Conservatives showed clear signs of panic and hysteria, going to extraordinary lengths to avoid debate and votes on their plans to privatise all libraries. Despite record high Council Tax rates, libraries are set to be run from the America, by a company with a reputation for sacking staff and selling off sites.

On the same night, Labour Councillors had to force Conservatives to hold an emergency Council meeting to debate Boris Johnson’s savage cuts to Croydon’s police. In an extraordinary U-turn, the Tories refused to back Labour’s plan to lobby the David Cameron for more police in Croydon following the recent riots and sacking of six police sergeants. Instead they voted to support police more cuts by 36-33. All this, despite voting for Labour’s motion at an Extraordinary Council meeting in September, during which they voted for more police not less.

Labour Leader, Councillor Tony Newman said:
"The Tories in Croydon have been exposed for the hypocrites they are, saying
one thing on the doorstep and telling local residents that they back Labour’s
plans for more police. Conservatives have reached an all time low in Croydon politics: they say they want more police in public, and vote for cuts in City Hall and Westminster. Frankly they should be ashamed of themselves.”

Labour’s GLA candidate for Croydon & Sutton, Louisa Woodley said:

“This is one of the main reasons I have decided to stand as a candidate in
next Mays London elections. We are exposing these two faced Tories in Croydon. It is the likes of Cllr Steve O’Connell who give politicians a bad name. His outrageously claims, when he is in Croydon, that he supports more police yet his voting record is a betrayal of the people in Croydon & Sutton. He needs to seriously consider his position. The people of Croydon will never forget nor will they forgive him for badly letting us down.”.

His failure to back Labours demands to reinstate Croydon’s police
sergeants is just the latest example of his rank hypocrisy. It is time Mr O’Connell put his £129,000 where his mouth is. Let him now explain to those who lost their lives, homes and livelihoods because of the 8/8 riots, why he wants to cut police.”

Sign the petition for more police:  www.savecroydonpolice.com