Local Man: Cllr Tony Pearson in New Addington |
The Croydon Labour Party has ramped up is negative campaign
against Conservative incumbent, Councillor Tony Pearson.
The increasingly personal
campaign through social media around Mr Pearson’s job, has triggered
speculation that the Labour Group’s botched selection process and lack of
policies in New Addington could add two more seats to the Conservatives
majority come May.
Tony Pearson has lived in New Addington with his wife and
family most of his life and is a well-known
figure in the local community. By contrast, the Labour candidates several miles away from New Addington and have never lived there.
Smears: How one Labour-supporting blog attacks Pearson |
The sense of panic in the Labour group has been underlined
by the arrival of several high profile Labour figures in New Addington. Former
Minister Alan Johnson, Shadow Minister Rachel Reeves and current Croydon North
MP Steve Reed have all been spotted in the area recently.
In 2003, the Croydon Labour
Party increased Council Tax on residents by 27.3%, hitting low paid workers
in New Addington particularly hard. The rise was so severe that a petition was
launched, attracting 16,000 signatures.
Tony Pearson and the Conservatives by contrast have frozen
Council Tax and given New Addington residents a £25 rebate.
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