On 19th February, local blog InsideCroydon has requested an interview with Mayor Jason Perry ahead of the local elections in May.
Croydon residents deserve a serious, grown-up debate about the future of our borough. What they do not deserve is political theatre dressed up as journalism. For that reason, the Croydon Conservatives are setting out clearly why the Mayor will not be taking part.
Here is the response from the Croydon Conservatives, sent on 20th February:
Mayor Jason Perry will not be participating in the proposed Inside Croydon interview.
The site has long abandoned any pretence of balanced or constructive journalism and instead operates as a highly partisan gossip platform. Residents deserve serious scrutiny of candidates, not a staged exercise designed to generate sensationalist headlines rather than inform voters.
The site routinely cites speculation as fact; treats rumour as reality and continually talks down any and all progress advanced in Croydon. It is not contributing to fair scrutiny, instead focusing itself on unnecessary personal attacks. Its poisonous approach is deeply damaging to the fabric of our borough.
The Mayor is already engaging - and will continue to engage - with a wide range of reputable media outlets and community platforms during the campaign, where discussions can take place fairly and respectfully, and where Croydon’s future can be debated on substance rather than hostility.
Mayor Perry remains focused on talking directly to residents about the progress being made to restore pride in Croydon and the work still ahead.
InsideCroydon has referenced publicly that Mayor Jason Perry will not participate, but has inexplicably not published the full reasoning. Given online commentary on this topic, we felt it only right that local people have access to both sides of the story.
Other political party representatives in Croydon can make up their own minds whether they wish to endorse the content of this blog through their own participation.
Croydon’s future is too important to be reduced to clickbait and factional hostility. The choice at this election is about leadership, stability and continuing the hard work of getting our borough back on track. That is where Mayor Jason Perry’s focus will remain.
