After months of election drama — including political jibes, disputes over candidate selections and high-profile visits to the borough — the dust has finally settled on who will run Croydon Council. Conservative Jason Perry was re-elected as the borough's Executive Mayor, beating his Labour challenger Rowenna Davis by 1,113 votes. While Labour emerged as the largest group with 30 seats, it fell short of an overall majority, leaving a more fragmented council chamber that now includes 28 Conservative councillors, eight Green, two Reform UK and two Liberal Democrats. So what does that mean for the council's direction, who's in charge of what, and ultimately the ability of the local authority to function effectively?
'Business as Usual'
Mayor Perry believes the new political structure is nothing new, given he presided over a council that had no overall control in his first term. "For me, it is business as usual," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) after the results were confirmed on May 9. Local government expert Tony Travers agrees with Mayor Perry, even if Labour remains the larger party. Speaking to the LDRS, Mr Travers explained the Mayor's position: "The Mayor has quite a lot of power. It is the Mayor that proposes the budget and effectively proposes major policy. It is a bit like the American system, where the president proposes budgets and policy but Congress votes on it. The council is a place to discuss and vote on policy, but in the end the barrier to stopping the Mayor is higher than 50/50."
Despite this, Mr Travers believes the introduction of more Green councillors, who took seats off Labour, as well as two new Reform UK councillors, who unseated the Conservatives in New Addington South, will pose fresh challenges for Mayor Perry. "On the margin, it makes it a fraction more difficult," he told the LDRS. "He has got more Greens, Liberal Democrats and Reform on the council now, so he is going to have to do deals with them."
When asked if he was surprised by the result, Mr Travers said: "I had predicted Jason Perry would hold on to Croydon. The reason for that was that across London the left is more split than the right. Because Reform hadn't got as far as many people, including me, thought they would in London, the centre right is more split than the centre left. That said, his Labour challenger got within one percentage point of his vote, so it was very, very close. That reflects the reality of Croydon — that it has been a Labour and Conservative marginal for years. Croydon is now a microcosm of London, as it has all five parties represented."
What Happens Next?
At Croydon Council's next Annual Council meeting, on May 27, the Mayor will reveal who will make up his cabinet. The largely ceremonial meeting will also see the appointment of a new Civic Mayor and Deputy Civic Mayor, with updates also provided about who will sit on the council's various committees. This will be an opportunity for the different parties to have a say in decisions. Croydon's newly elected councillors will also be formally introduced and deliver their maiden speeches to the chamber.
What Are the Mayor's Priorities?
"Business as usual" for Mayor Perry now means a continued focus on the borough's finances and town centre regeneration. His first administration centred on financial stabilisation — including efforts to address the £1.4bn debt burden — alongside improving the "look and feel" of the town centre. Speaking after his first day back in the office, Mayor Perry said: "We have achieved a great deal over the past four years, but there is more to do. I promised to fix our finances, and I will be focused on a fair deal for Croydon residents over the next four years. From cleaner, safer streets to a thriving and confident town centre that is fulfilling its potential, I am determined to deliver change on the issues that matter most to residents. In the weeks ahead, I will set out my priorities for the first 100 days of this term. For now, I want to thank residents once again for their support. I will continue to work hard for you to deliver the results Croydon deserves."
