Croydon needs a Labour victory in May after almost eight years of Tory control because the Tory council have ignored and neglected communities in so many parts of Croydon. Service cuts have been focused on the most vulnerable and inequality across the borough in terms of unemployment, health, housing and household incomes has grown.
The Tories have failed, rather than driving out inefficiencies, we now have the number one school places crisis in the country and by the council’s own admission, a housing crisis. Added to that, Croydon’s streets are filthy and we have a fly-tipping epidemic.
Labour’s manifesto is titled ‘Ambitious for Croydon‘ and we are. Our manifesto has support from both the business community, the voluntary sector and the trade unions and we are determined that all the people of Croydon benefit from future investment in our town. Our priorities are delivering local jobs and affordable housing to both buy and rent, restoring a sense of civic pride across our communities and ensuring the council plays its part by keeping our streets clean and safe.
Croydon needs a Labour victory in May so that we can set about addressing the legacy of almost eight years of a Tory council that has neglected so many communities across London’s largest borough. Our member of parliament for Croydon North, Steve Reed, was so shocked by the state of the dirty streets, fly-tipping and the general disrepair that he found when fighting his by-election in 2013 that he commissioned an ‘independent streets commission’ to look into the failings of the current Tory council.
Labour needs a victory in Croydon this May to send the clearest possible message to David Cameron that nationally we are on course to take back the government of our country in 2015. If you don’t know your Croydon political history, Labour won the council for the first time ever in 1994 and against the odds won three elections and remained in control until 2006. The council is currently 37 Tory, 33 Labour and all the indicators show that with ambition and hard work, it can become Labour.
I am pleased to report that we have a thriving and vibrant campaign in place, our plan is a one borough approach with everyone focusing on the five key wards that will decide who wins the Council. Four of those five wards are in the key parliamentary seat of Croydon Central, so crucial for a Labour victory in 2015. So, once the council elections are over, after 48 hours rest we will be back out on the doorsteps again!
If we continue to work hard, we are on course for a historic victory in May. Our political priorities are clean and safe streets, delivering a program of affordable housing to both buy and rent, the regeneration of our town across all our neighbourhoods and the creation of high quality local jobs.
A Labour Croydon will also embrace Ed Miliband and Jon Cruddas’s agenda of devolving power back to our town halls and communities. We believe that even in tough times if we can share decision making with our local communities, then councils in partnership with a Labour government could be on the threshold of a truly exciting new dawn for local government.
Rachel Reeves has already joined us to launch our jobs pledge, Sadiq Khan hosted our small business conference, Ed Miliband spent a morning in December visiting our local shops, Alan Johnson spoke at our crime prevention event and Harriet Harman visited only last week. So if you have a few hours to spare and want to help Labour to victory in Croydon we will welcome you with open arms.
If we win Croydon on 22 May then history tells us, there is every chance we can win the country back for Labour less than a year later. We are ambitious for Croydon and for the people of Croydon.
————
Tony Newman is Labour group leader in the London borough of Croydon
————
To join Croydon Labour on the Labour doorstep, contact the borough organiser James May on 07515737745