Inside Croydon

As one Croydon MP adjusts to life on the back benches, another has made her first move up the greasy pole of Westminster preferment, reports our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE

Steve Reed, the MP for Streatham (and Croydon North, when he can be bothered), needs help.

Reed was the first cabinet minister to be sacked when Andy Burnham arrived in Downing Street to take over as Prime Minister, with Reed publishing a two-page “resignation” letter full of his supposed achievements under Keir Starmer.

WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, on the end of a local MP’s ministerial career, as power shifts in Downing Street

Steve Reed, the MP for Streatham (and Croydon North when he could be bothered) was the first to resign from the Cabinet as Andy Burnham this afternoon became Britain’s fifth Prime Minister since 2020.

At least, Reed will say that he resigned, after posting a typically self-regarding letter to Burnham on Elon Musk’s hate platform.

WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, on another bad night for Steve Reed, the MP for Streatham (and Croydon North when he can be bothered)

“‘Burnham bounce’ in London could stop so many voters deserting Labour to the Greens and LibDems” chirped the London SubStandard today, the morning after Labour had lost two by-elections in Steve Reed’s fiefdom of Lambeth, to the Greens and the LibDems.

With the parliamentary Labour party’s nominations all in, Andy Burnham, this time last month the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is expected to become Prime Minister by the end of July.

WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, on another bad night for Steve Reed, the MP for Streatham (and Croydon North when he can be bothered)

“‘Burnham bounce’ in London could stop so many voters deserting Labour to the Greens and LibDems” chirped the London SubStandard today, the morning after Labour had lost two by-elections in Steve Reed’s fiefdom of Lambeth, to the Greens and the LibDems.

With the parliamentary Labour party’s nominations all in, Andy Burnham, this time last month the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is expected to become Prime Minister by the end of July.

Croydon’s tram network was closed between Addiscombe and Beckenham Junction for several hours this morning, as flooding blocked the lines following severe and intense thunderstorms just after dawn.

The River Wandle was close to breaking its banks near Beddington, and the London Fire Brigade responded to around 400 call-outs in connection with the thunderstorms – due both to flooding or lightning strikes.

One house, at Wilde Place in Tooting, struck by lightning, caught fire.

Some areas, including roads, were hit by flash flooding.

Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE on how Croydon’s Labour politicians responded to the Prime Minister announcing his resignation

Keir today, gone tomorrow.

And for Croydon’s right-wing Labour MPs, the scramble to preserve their positions, or to gain some favour under Keir Starmer’s likely successor, Andy Burnham, began even before the Prime Minister had turned away from the Downing Street podium this morning after announcing his resignation.

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The next phase of works on the A23 Streatham High Road is to begin on June 29, with overnight closures and traffic reduced to one lane in each direction. This phase of works is set to continue “until August”, according to Transport for London.

Work on this project, which is due to last 18 months, began in August 2025, with new pedestrian crossings, a protected cycling route and what TfL says will be improved bus lanes for quicker bus journeys.

The next phase of works on the A23 Streatham High Road is to begin on June 29, with overnight closures and traffic reduced to one lane in each direction. This phase of works is set to continue “until August”, according to Transport for London.

Work on this project, which is due to last 18 months, began in August 2025, with new pedestrian crossings, a protected cycling route and what TfL says will be improved bus lanes for quicker bus journeys.

As health secretary Wes Streeting considers resigning from government, possibly triggering a leadership challenge, Steve Reed, Sarah Jones and Natasha Irons are backing Starmer

“Uncle” Keir Starmer is clinging on to the job of Prime Minister, probably grateful for the hiatus caused by today’s State Opening of Parliament ceremonials, after three days of dissent and calls for his resignation, even from members of his own cabinet following last week’s disastrous local elections.