Surrey Street Market Trader Jose Joseph Bids to Become Croydon's First Independent Mayor
Veteran Surrey Street Market trader Jose Joseph, who some residents have nicknamed the "Croydon Mamdani" in reference to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is running as an independent candidate in the upcoming Croydon mayoral election. As the chairman of the Croydon Business Association, Joseph aims to demonstrate that "anybody in our community can stand as an independent candidate" and "show the power of common people."
Joseph's Motivation and Community Connection
Speaking ahead of the May 7 election, Joseph explained his decision to run, citing disappointment with local politicians, particularly Labour, with which he was previously associated. He stated, "I am running for Croydon Mayor because all the politicians have let down our town and our community, especially Labour." Having been a fixture at Surrey Street Market for years, Joseph has built strong ties with the local community from his corner at Church Street and Surrey Street. He emphasized, "My qualification is that I am working with the community, I work with people and understand their problems. This community gave me a better life."
Key Priorities: Crime, Regeneration, and Youth Opportunities
Joseph's top priority is cleaning up crime in Croydon. He supports the use of live facial recognition technology and advocates for a stronger visible police presence in the town centre, saying, "They need to be there all the time." He also highlighted the vulnerability of young people due to a lack of opportunities, warning, "Young people are on the streets, they don't have jobs or opportunities. They are misused by drug dealers and gangs." To address this, he plans to ensure that young people from Croydon get priority for local jobs.
On regeneration, Joseph agrees that Croydon town centre needs urgent revitalization but stresses it must balance public safety and community benefit. He criticized recent planning decisions, claiming high-rise buildings have created unsafe wind tunnels, such as on Surrey Street where gazebos have been blown away. Additionally, he committed to providing parking permits for Croydon businesses and introducing one hour of free parking.
Addressing Homelessness and Financial Challenges
Joseph, who runs regular soup kitchens, said he would repurpose buildings to house homeless families and give his mayoral allowance to Croydon's homeless community if elected. Regarding Croydon's £1.4 billion debt burden, he proposed cutting expenditure rather than raising council tax, consulting with local experts for savings. He also called for community action, suggesting, "We should go and take the people of Croydon and stand outside Parliament to call for a debt write-off."
Independent Campaign and Personal Journey
Unlike major political parties, Joseph's campaign is self-funded, which he argues allows him to prioritize residents' needs without party dictates. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, "I came to this place with nothing, I started this business with £500 and built up my life." Despite facing criticism over his accent and English, he added, "It doesn't matter, for over 20 years I have been communicating with people in the market; they know me and I understand people's problems. I am a working-class person, and I want to show the people in Croydon the power of common people."
