Croydon Radio Journalist Hits Back at Labour’s Smears

RESPECTED Croydon journalist and radio presenter Bieneosa Ebite has defended her decision to confront a candidate standing for the National Front on her In the Loop show and has hit back at a vicious smear campaign orchestrated via the notorious Inside Croydon blog. Ebite, whose parents were originally from Nigeria, put National Front candidate Tony Martin on the spot live on air and had to endure comments about repatriation in a challenging interview.

The bold move won praise from some of Croydon’s politicians including Gavin Barwell MP and others who believe “these views need to be exposed & confronted.”

But that didn’t stop fellow Croydon Radio presenter and Labour candidate Andrew Pelling from resigning in disgust, an announcement delivered live on air by his close friend and mentor, Labour Leader Tony Newman. But the next morning, Ebite found herself plastered across the Inside Croydon blog with the station’s founder interviewed by the blog.

But today Ebite hit back at the smear campaign saying, “I have noted that a small element associated with an aforementioned blog site, has sought to smear the quality of my broadcasts and I believe that their reports in relation to this have been misleading. I feel their attitude towards me and my decision to interview Tony Martin has been patronising.”

Croydon Labour Leader Stumbles in First Leaders’ Radio Debate

Croydon Radio: Newman (Left) Fisher (Right)

Croydon Labour Leader Tony Newman repeatedly stumbled in the first Radio debate ahead of the Croydon Local Elections 2014. In the live interview on the In the Loop show hosted by Bieneosa Ebite, Newman went head-to-head against current Conservative Leader Mike Fisher in the first in a string of debates that will decide who governs Croydon for the next four years.

Labour’s Newman focussed the debate around Labour’s pocket manifesto entitled ‘Ambitious for Croydon’ but Fisher hit back claiming the document should be called ‘Ambivalent for Croydon’. On the attack, Fisher then said that the Labour leader makes a detailed pitch on what he wants to do for Croydon, but nowhere in the document does he explain how he is going to pay for it, accusing Labour of being dishonest with the people of Croydon.

Fisher then moved the debate onto Council Tax attacking Labour for increasing Council Tax by 27% and 36% when they were last in the Town Hall. Newman responded by saying that the Tories were obsessed with things that happened ten years ago, Fisher reminded Newman that the reason for this is that it was then that Labour were last in power.

Newman ended the debate by plugging his best friend Andrew Pelling, with Fisher saying “Let’s talk about Andrew Pelling shall we…” before the presenter cut the interview short.

The lacklustre performance from the usually booming and passionate Labour leader has underlined fears within the Labour group that its personal attack campaign is beginning to backfire badly in swing seats such as Waddon and New Addington.

Polling shows a close race in both seats with everything left to play for, but voters have become disenchanted with Labour due to its repeated attacks on the private lives, character and families of Conservative candidates via sites such as the Inside Croydon Blog, which Newman regularly writes for.

In one post, Local New Addington resident Tony Pearson is branded a ‘Pillock’, a fact that has not gone down well with local people in the marginal ward. “Conservative Councillor Tony Pearson is a decent, local family man who has lived in New Addington all his life and does not deserve this kind of personal abuse from Labour,” said one source.

*Listen to the show by clicking here

Matthews Yard Kick-starts Croydon’s Digital Revolution

Working hard for Croydon's future: Matthews Yard workspace

Amidst the grey buildings and tall office blocks deep inside the town of Croydon lies an innovative hub of technology, art and media which is developing a significant online following – it’s name is Matthews Yard. To local politicians, dignitaries and influencers, this exciting hive of activity doesn’t simply represent Croydon’s future, it defines it. So how is Matthews Yard changing Croydon’s image? And why are local people so keen to support it? The Croydon Gazette ventured into the heart of Old Town Croydon to find out.

Described by its owners as Croydon’s ‘Hidden Gem’, Matthews Yard is the kind of connected café you’d expect to find in central London’s Shoreditch area, equipped with internet, printing and offices services and good quality cappuccinos. When our reporter visited the venue last Wednesday, what was most surprising was the mixture of people enjoying, relaxing and interacting there. The community and customers that enjoy the services and surrounding of Matthews Yard aren’t all a bunch of youngsters in baggy jeans, in fact pay a visit any day of the week and you’ll find OAPs, MPs, politicians from all parties and all walks of life.

The site is one of a growing number of social venues providing customers with a mix of coffee and culture, hosting cookery competitions, theatre productions, community meetings and the extremely popular Croydon Radio channel. Pop onto Twitter and you’ll see numerous users interacting with or discussing their weekly and sometimes daily visits to Matthews Yard.

But the secret sauce behind this thrilling addition to our vibrant town centre lies and its target market, a hub of innovation made available to anyone and for anyone. For Croydon residents, Matthews Yard offers the prospect of an ethical connected café, providing discounts for members of the community services and workers in the local NHS hospital. The production studio offers local community groups access to a 70-seat capacity theatre, a co-working lounge for businesses, residents and community groups to meet, interact and go about their businesses and an impressive selection of alcoholic beverages to relax and unwind over after a hard days work.


Open to the community - Matthews Yard



It’s no wonder then why so many of Croydon’s political class have decided it’s time to get involved and support such a forward looking community project. Log on to Croydon Radio, download a podcast and you’ll find every elected official from every political colour chipping in and contributing to community debate.

The Croydon Gazette was particularly impressed with the selection of cakes and treats available to accompany the coffee at Matthews Yard, which we hope and presume were homemade by the smiling volunteers who staff the café bar.



However, Croydon’s digital future rests in the hands of the residents, Matthews Yard needs a strong flow of customer support to keep the good work and critical environment it provides running well. So the next time you’re in Croydon town centre and you fancy a coffee, think twice before you pick a mega-chain café and go wandering down Surrey Street and see what our reporter saw last Wednesday. Invest in Croydon by supporting the services it offers. Matthews Yard is indeed the gem in the heart of our town, but we all have a duty to support it.