Liberal Democrat candidate for Croydon Mayor, Richard Howard, has called for radical changes to transform the borough's fortunes, arguing it has been let down by decades of Labour and Conservative dominance.
A Fresh Vision for Croydon
The former soldier and financial analyst claims Croydon needs a decisive break from the two main parties, stating that years of their rule have created endless political bickering where constant point-scoring means everything becomes a political football. Mr Howard, who received 9,967 votes when he stood against Conservative Mayor Jason Perry in 2022, believes his party can offer the fresh vision Croydon needs at the local election next May 2026.
The Housing and Planning Overhaul
Central to Howard's platform is a complete overhaul of the borough's planning system and housebuilding strategy. He argues that Croydon must embrace fairer and more transparent development to survive. We've got to say, if you don't have new families coming in, you don't have young people in your area, then the high street will die, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
However, he balanced this by criticising the practice of knocking down large family houses to build nine flats, describing it as unacceptable. He specifically highlighted development inequality across the borough, suggesting proposals in southern Croydon are often rejected with the support of Conservative MP Chris Philp.
As a self-proclaimed huge believer in localism, Howard proposes creating neighbourhood forums under the Localism Act to help shape sustainable development that communities genuinely consent to. He also wants to increase the share of local Community Infrastructure Levy funding retained by neighbourhoods from 25% to 50%, arguing current centralisation directs money toward major projects like Fairfield Halls rather than supporting local areas.
Criticism of Current Leadership
Howard delivered a blistering assessment of current Mayor Jason Perry's performance, rating him a big fat F for failing to fix the council's finances. He cited continued reliance on government support to balance the books and criticised the council's dependence on agency staff, calling for more full-time hires to improve reliability.
He also accused Mayor Perry of breaking his promise to reopen Purley Pool, which was closed by the previous Labour administration in March 2020. Howard noted the lack of spades in the ground and that the approved scheme, now being led by developer Polaska, differs significantly from what residents were initially promised, removing hundreds of parking spaces and including older living accommodation.
On Croydon's cultural offer, Howard argued the borough has suffered from a tragic lack of ambition over the past 15 years. He claimed the town has been waiting for URW's Westfield project to bail us out with a plan for the high street that was outdated even when first proposed. Instead, he wants Croydon to focus on experiences, culture, and nightlife rather than retail alone, with arts and culture becoming the foundation of the borough's new identity.
He specifically highlighted the underuse of Fairfield Halls, which he said should be the jewel in Croydon's cultural crown but sits empty most of the year. He wants the venue to anchor a wider arts ecosystem with smaller venues around it.
Political Context and Response
When asked why his party has been unable to break through in Croydon as they have in neighbouring Lib Dem-run Sutton, Howard blamed the polarised north-south split between red and blue. We get squeezed as a result of that, he explained, adding that if you vote for the same parties, please do not be surprised if the same things happen.
In response, Conservative Councillor Jason Cummings, Cabinet Member for Finance, defended the current administration's record. Every major decision has been anchored in a four-year transformation and savings plan which is stabilising the council's finances after the catastrophic failures of the previous Labour administration, he stated.
On Purley Pool, Councillor Cummings said planning work for the new pool and leisure centre is well advanced, designs have been published, and delivery remains a top priority for Mayor Perry, calling Howard's comments ill-informed and irrelevant.
Chris Philp, MP for Croydon South, defended the Conservative-led planning approach, arguing that family homes and the character of green suburban areas must be protected. He believes new flats should be built in town centres and on brownfield land, not by demolishing houses in established neighbourhoods.
The stage is now set for a contentious election campaign as Howard positions himself as the candidate of radical change against the established political forces that have dominated Croydon politics for generations.
