One of the intriguing facets of the close Conservative v Labour parliamentary contest in Croydon Central is what will happen to the support of the one in 16 of the electorate who, in 2010, chose to support Andrew Pelling, the former Conservative MP then Independent candidate and now local Labour councillor.

Those votes could prove vital to the eventual winner.

Gavin Barwell represents a lot of what Mr Pelling stood for as a Conservative, so former Pelling supporters should support Mr Barwell this time.

Mr Barwell is, like Mr Pelling was, a One Nation moderate Conservative who puts Croydon first and keeps his party relevant for the great variety of Croydon’s communities.

Mr Barwell has been credited by Westfield as being a major player in getting them to bring renewal and thus prosperity back to Croydon.

It seems unlikely that many of Mr Pelling’s supporters will follow him into the Labour camp.

The local Labour Party does not have much use for Mr Pelling so his 2010 supporters will likely not have much use for Labour.

To the discreet amusement of Mr Pelling’s former Conservative colleagues the former local Tory leader, London Assembly member and MP has been cast off into the most obscure parts of the Labour party backbenches in the council chamber.

PATRICK RATNARAJA
by email