Former Croydon Council leader Mike Fisher last night made a failed bid to return to front-line politics, less than two years after resigning over the revelation he had awarded himself a secret pay rise.

Last night Conservative councillors elected Jason Cummings to replace outgoing deputy leader Dudley Mead at the party's annual general meeting at Croydon town hall.

But the Croydon Guardian understands that Cllr Fisher was also one of three names listed on the ballot, signalling the former leader's desire to return to the corridors of power in a council chamber he once oversaw.

Cllr Fisher was forced to step down in September 2014 after it emerged that he had authorised a personal expenses increase of almost £10,000 during his time as leader, without informing other councillors.

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He could not be reached for comment this morning.

Tim Pollard, the leader of the Croydon Conservatives, said he was "just not going to comment on who the other candidates were" in the deputy leadership contest, although he did reveal that "Jason won a comfortable victory".

Asked whether Cllr Cummings was the best man for the job, Cllr Pollard said: "The group thought so, and it's the group's decision."

It is not known who the third candidate was in the contest.

Cllr Cummings said: "Any situation when you're endorsed by your peer group is probably the height of any recognition you can get. I'm very pleased.”

Echoing Cllr Pollard's unwillingness to reveal the names of the other candidates, Cllr Cummings said: "Any of [them] would have done a good job. I think what edged it for me [was my] campaigning history - we're in opposition at the moment and obviously there's going to be a lot of campaigning coming up to the 2018 elections.

He added: "Let me be clear - Dudley Mead, who is standing down not being forced down, he's retiring from politics, he's made that clear. A lot of people don't survive that long.

"I'm sort of stepping into his shoes. So this isn't so much about a need to change.

"But we do have to take the message of the electorate - we lost the last election to Labour. We need to be giving out positive reasons why people should vote for us."

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Labour councillor Sean Fitzsimmons, who reported seeing Cllr Fisher "going around glad-handing people" as Conservatives gathered last night for the ballot, said he thought it was too soon for the former Conservative leader to return to the front bench.

He added: "[I think it] shows the paucity of talent they have for deputy leader, and it shows they think people have a very short memory."

"I think people who have been seen to have done wrong - and I'm not saying illegally - should spend a while contemplating their actions before taking a lead role in public service. I don't think he's spent enough time or shown enough [remorse]."

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