Welcoming a New Candidate in Croydon South

Top Prize: Croydon South

Croydon’s Conservatives are waiting in anticipation for the announcement of the new candidate for Croydon South. The seat is currently held by senior MP Richard Ottaway. The new candidate will be expected to act as a catalyst for the Croydon Council Elections in 2014.

The Croydon South Constituency is the southern most of the three constituencies in the London Borough of Croydon. It includes the wards of Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Croham, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon & Ballards and Waddon.

But the new Conservative candidate will need to have a very thick skin. Under the leadership of Tony Newman the local Labour Party is running its campaign almost exclusively on personal attacks and character assassination of Tory candidates, a strategy which has raised serious questions from more senior members of the Labour group. Mr Newman recently declined to condemn vile personal attacks in a recent radio interview, despite being asked to do so by a local resident.

One local Tory volunteer said, “I almost feel sorry for our next candidate, Labour will plaster him or her all over the Inside Croydon blog within minutes. Newman’s far too weak to do anything about it, a stronger leader would have enforced discipline and decency amongst the ranks.”