Only one of Croydon’s MPs attended a knife crime meeting last night.

It was only when the Croydon Guardian asked if our local MPs would attend that Andrew Pelling MP decided to come.

MP Richard Ottoway brought out a press release congratulating the council on its stance, but again only after being contacted by this newspaper.

Chairman of the scrutiny committee Councillor David Osland said: “MP participation is a matter for them that I do not wish to comment on. I do not want to dilute the importance of the event.”

It is the second time that Croydon’s MPs have failed to attend a knife crime summit in the last three months.

In June this year all three MPs were also absent from a House of Commons meeting on knife crime.

Mr Ottaway said: “I have been quite involved in knife crime debates and I have previously met victims of knife crime. I am not attending because I was not invited and I have made plans to be in Westminster.”

Mr Pelling’s secretary said: “As an internal council matter it would be for the organisers to invite those they wish to consult as witnesses. Mr Pelling would have liked to be invited to attend the process of reviewing the council’s approach to knife crime as a witness to the committee but has not received such an offer.

“However, as it is a public meeting he will attend and hopes to contribute if the opportunity arises.”

Labour MP Malcolm Wicks is currently on annual leave and is due to return later next week.