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General election 2019: Croydon in focus | General election 2019: Croydon in focus |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Croydon. Famous for concrete, Boxpark, Stormzy and Kate Moss. | Croydon. Famous for concrete, Boxpark, Stormzy and Kate Moss. |
The south London borough is home to some 387,000 people, with the highest number of under-18s in the capital. | The south London borough is home to some 387,000 people, with the highest number of under-18s in the capital. |
Croydon North, Croydon South and Croydon Central are its three parliamentary constituencies. The latter is a marginal, bellwether seat and since 1979 its winner has belonged to the party that forms the next government. | Croydon North, Croydon South and Croydon Central are its three parliamentary constituencies. The latter is a marginal, bellwether seat and since 1979 its winner has belonged to the party that forms the next government. |
On a wet, grey day, residents shared their views on the election issues that mattered most to them. | On a wet, grey day, residents shared their views on the election issues that mattered most to them. |
Gemma, 33, is a council officer who moved to the area five years ago and lives in Shirley. | Gemma, 33, is a council officer who moved to the area five years ago and lives in Shirley. |
She said she "loves Croydon" and it had improved in her time there with the opening of places such as Boxpark - a pop up mall next to East Croydon station that serves a variety of cuisines from converted shipping containers. | She said she "loves Croydon" and it had improved in her time there with the opening of places such as Boxpark - a pop up mall next to East Croydon station that serves a variety of cuisines from converted shipping containers. |
The election however, is causing her some consternation. "I just feel like we're on the precipice of something awful and there just needs to be a massive change." | The election however, is causing her some consternation. "I just feel like we're on the precipice of something awful and there just needs to be a massive change." |
The environment and education are her top priorities. | The environment and education are her top priorities. |
"As I have two young children, my son just started school and I love his school but I'd be devastated if cuts affected it," she said. | "As I have two young children, my son just started school and I love his school but I'd be devastated if cuts affected it," she said. |
Waiting for a tram Courtney Robinson, a software engineer in his 20s, said Brexit was his bugbear. | Waiting for a tram Courtney Robinson, a software engineer in his 20s, said Brexit was his bugbear. |
"I feel the people are being sold isolation as independence and it is my generation and those after us who will pay the consequences," he said. | "I feel the people are being sold isolation as independence and it is my generation and those after us who will pay the consequences," he said. |
He is not entirely convinced by any of the main party leaders. | He is not entirely convinced by any of the main party leaders. |
He said he was disappointed with Labour's Jeremy Corbyn not taking a stance over Europe and believed the Tories have "screwed over the country". | He said he was disappointed with Labour's Jeremy Corbyn not taking a stance over Europe and believed the Tories have "screwed over the country". |
According to the council, about 7,000 people are employed in Croydon's tech-associated industries, with a further 7,000 in engineering. | According to the council, about 7,000 people are employed in Croydon's tech-associated industries, with a further 7,000 in engineering. |
As a millennial working in tech, Mr Robinson said housing costs were less of a problem for him, despite the "ludicrous" prices. | As a millennial working in tech, Mr Robinson said housing costs were less of a problem for him, despite the "ludicrous" prices. |
He rents a flat in New Addington that only takes up 15% of his salary but said the price of commuting was a big concern. | He rents a flat in New Addington that only takes up 15% of his salary but said the price of commuting was a big concern. |
His views on Brexit and transport were shared by 50-year-old Daisy Nahrulla, who has lived in her own home in Thornton Heath for the past 18 years. | His views on Brexit and transport were shared by 50-year-old Daisy Nahrulla, who has lived in her own home in Thornton Heath for the past 18 years. |
She has been training to be a business coach after years working in the City in transport financing. | She has been training to be a business coach after years working in the City in transport financing. |
Ms Nahrulla has previously voted Labour but said she wanted to move away from the "mess that is Brexit" and would either vote Liberal Democrat or Green. | Ms Nahrulla has previously voted Labour but said she wanted to move away from the "mess that is Brexit" and would either vote Liberal Democrat or Green. |
"We need more stations in south London. Transport has been under-invested for years," she said. | "We need more stations in south London. Transport has been under-invested for years," she said. |
Melissa Brooks, 33, is a single mother of two who was born in Croydon. Retail accounts for a large proportion of the local economy and for the past 16 years Ms Brooks has worked part-time at Next. | Melissa Brooks, 33, is a single mother of two who was born in Croydon. Retail accounts for a large proportion of the local economy and for the past 16 years Ms Brooks has worked part-time at Next. |
She said violence and drugs were her worry, having witnessed people "sniffing things off bin lids" outside her home. | She said violence and drugs were her worry, having witnessed people "sniffing things off bin lids" outside her home. |
Her eldest son starts high school next year and she has chosen a school nearest to their home. | Her eldest son starts high school next year and she has chosen a school nearest to their home. |
"He's so quiet and you don't have to be part of a gang now. They're targeting random innocent people and that really scares me," she said. | "He's so quiet and you don't have to be part of a gang now. They're targeting random innocent people and that really scares me," she said. |
She did not vote in the 2017 election but did take part in the EU referendum. | She did not vote in the 2017 election but did take part in the EU referendum. |
Essentially though she has lost faith. "I don't know if it makes a difference really," she said. | Essentially though she has lost faith. "I don't know if it makes a difference really," she said. |
Croydon | Croydon |
Her friend Ann Charles, 69, lives in South Norwood and is a mother of three. | Her friend Ann Charles, 69, lives in South Norwood and is a mother of three. |
She is a carer for her eldest daughter and volunteers at a lunch club. | She is a carer for her eldest daughter and volunteers at a lunch club. |
Ms Charles said normally she voted Labour but would not be doing so as she did not trust Mr Corbyn but she said she was "not sure about Boris either". | Ms Charles said normally she voted Labour but would not be doing so as she did not trust Mr Corbyn but she said she was "not sure about Boris either". |
She recently spent more than eight hours waiting on a regular trip to a hospital with her daughter and said the main problem for her was immigration. | She recently spent more than eight hours waiting on a regular trip to a hospital with her daughter and said the main problem for her was immigration. |
"We need some of it but schools and hospitals are inundated with people, they're struggling to cope," she said. | "We need some of it but schools and hospitals are inundated with people, they're struggling to cope," she said. |
Milo, 18, is studying mechanics at Croydon College. His mum and dad have always voted in the election and he said he planned to vote Labour. | Milo, 18, is studying mechanics at Croydon College. His mum and dad have always voted in the election and he said he planned to vote Labour. |
He wanted politicians to "look out for the youth" and speak to young people, especially those in areas of "higher gang activity". | He wanted politicians to "look out for the youth" and speak to young people, especially those in areas of "higher gang activity". |
"Ask them what they're into and make the changes," he added. | "Ask them what they're into and make the changes," he added. |
Tom Magrath has been working on a stall at the town's Surrey Street market since he was 14. | Tom Magrath has been working on a stall at the town's Surrey Street market since he was 14. |
He shared Milo's concerns about knife crime but said he could not vote for Mr Corbyn and would be voting for the Conservative Party on 12 December. | He shared Milo's concerns about knife crime but said he could not vote for Mr Corbyn and would be voting for the Conservative Party on 12 December. |
Mr Magrath added: "They've got to... get us out of the EU because we voted for that. | Mr Magrath added: "They've got to... get us out of the EU because we voted for that. |
"I know what we're going to get though - the best of a bad bunch." | "I know what we're going to get though - the best of a bad bunch." |
You can see the lists of candidates standing in Croydon's three seats here: Croydon Central; Croydon North; Croydon South. | You can see the lists of candidates standing in Croydon's three seats here: Croydon Central; Croydon North; Croydon South. |
Or find the candidates standing in each constituency around the country here. | Or find the candidates standing in each constituency around the country here. |