Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Croydon Labour’s mayoral candidate has blasted the borough’s current state, calling it a “depressing shadow” of its former self in a candid statement.
The remarks were made by Waddon councillor Rowenna Davis after she was chosen to challenge Conservative incumbent Jason Perry in the mayoral race that will take place the following year.
Davis stated after today’s announcement that “Croydon needs change,” even if she was thrilled to be running as Labour’s candidate.
Following the announcement today, Davis said she was delighted to be standing as Labour’s candidate but that ‘Croydon needs change.’ She added:
“I love my home, but we’re being let down.
Our borough is the ‘fly-tipping capital of England’, our streets and neighbourhoods feel neglected, and too many people feel unsafe, while our town centre is a depressing shadow of the delight it used to be.
For too long, Croydon has been run down by mismanagement and bad development. That changes with me – I’ll put people first.”
Following a protracted vetting process, Davis was chosen after competing for the nomination against fellow councilor Dr. Manju Shahul-Hameed. Despite the fact that Croydon Labour members’ online voting ended on Monday, the results were postponed for 48 hours to allow for the receipt of postal votes.
In the 2015 general election, Davis, who was previously the Council’s Chair of Scrutiny, ran for the Southampton Itchen seat. She used to work as a journalist for the Guardian and was a councillor in the nearby town of Southwark.
Senior Labour leaders gave Davis several high-profile support during her campaign. Among them were Val Shawcross, a past contender for mayor of Croydon, and Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester.
In order to revitalize the town center, Davis has made fly-tipping and public safety top priority. He has also indicated plans to address neglect and enhance the environment in general.
To make it simpler and safer to traverse around Croydon town centre on foot or by bicycle, efforts are being made to upgrade the walking routes and take down obstacles between important locations.
Greater accessibility is supported by improvements to transportation hubs and improved integration with the neighboring communities.
In addition to initiatives to make the town center a more resident-friendly area, the council’s Customer First program seeks to enhance the experience of residents and foster trust in local services.
In her Waddon district, where industrial garbage tipping on the Purley Way is particularly prevalent, Davis has actively fought against fly-tipping.
Together with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she pushed for action on a particularly problematic tipping location next to Purley Way playing grounds in 2023.
She also discussed the previous poor administration of Croydon Council, which resulted in the council’s three section 114 bankruptcy declarations since 2019.
In her inaugural speech, Davis was eager to confront the fact that the previous Labour administration was largely responsible for this mishandling.
She added:
“Croydon Labour is under new management. I’m proud to have won the trust of members with such a clear mandate for change, and now I want to earn the trust of the public. Together, we’ll make Croydon a place to be proud of.”
With today’s statement, Reform UK is now the only major party without a designated candidate for the contest that will take place in conjunction with the local elections next year. Perry has served in this capacity since the Executive Mayor position was established in 2022, and Croydon Conservatives hope he will continue to do so.
Richard Howard, a former soldier and 2022 mayoral candidate, was announced by the Liberal Democrats in October of last year, giving them an early advantage. Peter Underwood, a conservationist and fellow 2022 candidate, was named the Green Party’s 2026 candidate last week.
On Thursday, May 7, 2026, voters elected 70 council members from 28 wards and the executive mayor for the following four years in Croydon’s municipal elections.
What specific changes does Davis plan to implement in Croydon’s town center?
With the support of a £18.5 million Levelling Up Fund grant, the council is spearheading the “Reconnecting Croydon” effort, which aims to improve public areas and local infrastructure to increase the town centre’s accessibility and appeal.
Enhancing streets, squares, and open areas to make them friendlier and more pedestrian-friendly is the main goal of the projects.
Urban greening and public realm enhancements are part of the Growth Zone program, which aims to make the area greener and more appealing.
A finalized inward investment plan was created to draw in new companies and capital, boosting the town center’s foot traffic and economic activity.
Under the direction of the Mayor, the Town Center Advisory Board develops plans to assist current companies and promote start-ups.