Your vote shapes the future of Croydon. Learn about the candidates, understand the issues, and make your voice heard in this pivotal election.
The major topics dominating the 2026 Croydon election campaign
Croydon's path back from bankruptcy and restoring fiscal responsibility to local government.
Addressing the housing crisis and improving council housing repair times for residents.
Regenerating Croydon town centre and supporting local businesses and communities.
Tackling knife crime, investing in youth services, and creating safer communities.
Meet the four candidates competing to become Croydon's next Mayor
Complete ward-by-ward breakdown with 2022 results and 2026 projections
All 28 wards with 2022 results and 2026 strategy priorities
| Ward | LAB % | CON % | LD % | GRN % | 2022 Winner | Risk Level | GOTV Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addiscombe East | 38.2% | 31.5% | 18.4% | 8.1% | LAB | Moderate | Hold - Shore up progressive vote |
| Addiscombe West | 41.3% | 28.7% | 17.2% | 9.4% | LAB | Low | Safe - Base mobilisation |
| Bensham Manor | 52.1% | 22.4% | 12.8% | 7.3% | LAB | Low | Stronghold - High turnout target |
| Broad Green | 48.7% | 28.9% | 11.2% | 6.8% | LAB | Moderate | Critical - Housing message resonates |
| Coulsdon Town | 21.4% | 54.2% | 14.8% | 5.9% | CON | Low | Opportunity - Chip away at margins |
| Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood | 32.8% | 18.4% | 15.2% | 28.7% | LAB | High | Critical - Green squeeze needed |
| Fairfield | 42.1% | 38.7% | 10.4% | 5.2% | LAB | Critical | Swing - Town centre focus |
| Kenley | 18.9% | 58.4% | 14.2% | 4.8% | CON | Low | Low priority - Limited resources |
| New Addington North | 54.3% | 31.2% | 7.8% | 3.4% | LAB | Low | Stronghold - Estate outreach |
| New Addington South | 51.8% | 33.7% | 8.1% | 3.2% | LAB | Low | Stronghold - Transport access |
| Norbury & Pollards Hill | 55.2% | 24.1% | 10.4% | 6.2% | LAB | Low | Safe - Community events |
| Norbury Park | 48.9% | 29.4% | 11.8% | 5.9% | LAB | Moderate | Hold - Youth safety focus |
| Old Coulsdon | 22.8% | 51.4% | 16.2% | 5.4% | CON | Low | Low priority |
| Park Hill & Whitgift | 34.5% | 42.8% | 13.4% | 5.8% | CON | High | Opportunity - Soft Tory target |
| Purley & Woodcote | 19.4% | 56.8% | 15.2% | 4.9% | CON | Low | Low priority |
| Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown | 24.7% | 48.9% | 17.8% | 5.1% | CON | Moderate | Opportunity - Lib Dem squeeze |
| Sanderstead | 17.2% | 61.4% | 13.8% | 4.2% | CON | Low | Low priority |
| Selhurst | 56.8% | 21.4% | 10.2% | 7.4% | LAB | Low | Stronghold - Max turnout |
| Selsdon & Addington Village | 23.4% | 52.8% | 14.6% | 5.2% | CON | Low | Low priority |
| Selsdon Vale & Forestdale | 31.2% | 47.4% | 12.8% | 4.9% | CON | Moderate | Opportunity - Estate areas |
| Shirley North | 28.4% | 49.2% | 13.8% | 5.1% | CON | Moderate | Opportunity |
| Shirley South | 26.8% | 51.4% | 12.4% | 5.8% | CON | Low | Low priority |
| South Croydon | 31.8% | 44.2% | 14.8% | 5.4% | CON | High | Swing - Commuter outreach |
| South Norwood | 54.2% | 23.8% | 11.2% | 6.8% | LAB | Low | Stronghold - Community cohesion |
| Thornton Heath | 58.4% | 21.2% | 9.8% | 6.4% | LAB | Low | Mega stronghold - Volunteer base |
| Upper Norwood | 36.8% | 24.6% | 16.2% | 18.4% | LAB | High | Critical - Green/LD squeeze |
| Waddon | 45.8% | 37.2% | 9.4% | 4.2% | LAB | Critical | HOME WARD - Maximum visibility |
| West Thornton | 52.4% | 28.3% | 10.2% | 5.8% | LAB | Low | Safe - Base mobilisation |
| Woodside | 49.2% | 27.8% | 12.4% | 6.8% | LAB | Moderate | Diverse outreach, multilingual |
| Ward | Risk | GOTV Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Waddon | Critical | Rowenna's home base - personal outreach critical, community events |
| Fairfield | Critical | Win back from NDP, affordability and transit messaging |
| Crystal Palace | High | Green squeeze critical - environmental messaging without alienating |
| Park Hill & Whitgift | High | Soft Conservative target - professional class disillusioned |
| South Croydon | High | Three-way competitive - maintain Labour base, door-to-door |
| Upper Norwood | High | Green/LD squeeze - progressive coalition messaging |
All 33 Labour council seats requiring defence plus target gains
Current Labour councillors by ward with 2026 re-election strategy
| Ward | Councillor(s) | 2022 Margin | Risk Level | Defence Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waddon | Rowenna Davis, Cllr A, Cllr B | +8.6% | Critical | Candidate's home ward - maximum visibility, personal canvassing, local achievements showcase |
| Fairfield | Cllr C, Cllr D | +3.4% | Critical | Town centre regeneration messaging, young professional outreach, St George's Walk focus |
| Broad Green | Cllr E, Cllr F | +19.8% | Moderate | Housing repairs wins, community centre events, multi-lingual outreach |
| Addiscombe East | Cllr G, Cllr H | +6.7% | Moderate | Progressive vote consolidation, Green squeeze |
| Addiscombe West | Cllr I, Cllr J | +12.6% | Low | Base mobilisation, community events |
| Bensham Manor | Cllr K, Cllr L, Cllr M | +29.7% | Low | Stronghold - maximum turnout, community champions |
| Crystal Palace | Cllr N | +4.1% | High | Green squeeze critical - environmental messaging without alienating base |
| New Addington North | Cllr O, Cllr P, Cllr Q | +23.1% | Low | Estate outreach, transport access focus |
| New Addington South | Cllr R, Cllr S | +18.1% | Low | Community services, youth programmes |
| Norbury & Pollards Hill | Cllr T, Cllr U, Cllr V | +31.1% | Low | Safe seat - community appreciation events |
| Norbury Park | Cllr W, Cllr X | +19.5% | Moderate | Youth safety messaging, school engagement |
| Selhurst | Cllr Y, Cllr Z, Cllr AA | +35.4% | Low | Stronghold - maximum turnout priority |
| South Norwood | Cllr BB, Cllr CC | +27.6% | Low | Community cohesion, local business support |
| Thornton Heath | Cllr DD, Cllr EE, Cllr FF | +37.8% | Low | Mega stronghold - volunteer deployment base |
| West Thornton | Cllr GG, Cllr HH | +28.3% | Low | Safe - base mobilisation |
| Woodside | Cllr II, Cllr JJ | +22.4% | Moderate | Diverse community outreach, multi-lingual materials |
Realistic gain opportunities based on 2022 margins and demographic shifts
| Ward | Current Holder | 2022 CON Margin | Target Score | Attack Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Hill & Whitgift | Conservative | +8.3% | High Priority | Perry fatigue messaging, professional class disillusionment, transport issues |
| South Croydon | Conservative | +12.4% | Moderate | Commuter outreach, rail service improvements messaging |
| Selsdon Vale | Conservative | +16.2% | Moderate | Estate areas opportunity, community services messaging |
| Shirley North | Conservative | +20.8% | Low | Long-term build, limited resources 2026 |
Labour Candidate for Croydon Mayor
"People First"
Rowenna Davis enters the 2026 race with strong local credentials (100% council attendance, Waddon councillor), credible policy platform (housing repairs, youth safety), and high-profile endorsements (Andy Burnham). The "People First" message resonates with the "Exhausted Centre" - voters tired of Perry's fiscal austerity messaging. Key vulnerabilities include association with Labour's historic council failures (bankruptcy narrative) and the St George's Walk planning controversy.
Path to Victory: Consolidate Labour base (33 council seats), squeeze Green/Lib Dem second preferences (~24% combined), and flip 1,500+ votes in swing wards (Waddon, Fairfield, Broad Green, Crystal Palace).
Rowenna Davis is the Labour candidate for Mayor of Croydon. A Waddon councillor with a 100% attendance record, she has deep roots in the community through her work on housing, youth safety, and urban renewal. Former journalist and author, she brings communication skills and policy expertise to the campaign. Endorsed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
| Criterion | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name Recognition | 4/5 | Strong in Waddon, building borough-wide |
| Local Connections | 5/5 | Deep roots in Croydon, community organisations |
| Campaign Experience | 5/5 | Multiple council elections, knows the riding |
| Riding Fit | 5/5 | Has represented Waddon, understands local issues |
| Policy Expertise | 4/5 | Housing, youth safety, urban renewal focus |
| Fundraising Ability | 4/5 | Established donor network, party support |
| Media Skills | 5/5 | Former journalist, strong communicator |
| Party Support | 4/5 | Andy Burnham endorsement, Labour HQ backing |
| Ground Game | 4/5 | 33 Labour councillors, volunteer network |
| Year | Labour | Conservative | Lib Dem | Green | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Mayoral | 48.8% | 51.2% | - | - | Jason Perry (CON) |
| 2018 Council | 51.2% | 42.8% | 3.8% | 2.2% | Labour Majority |
| 2014 Council | 41.6% | 49.2% | 5.4% | 3.8% | Conservative |
Priority targeting for the 2026 campaign
Door-to-door canvassing in all 28 wards. Identify Labour supporters, undecideds, and opposition. Build voter contact database. Priority: Swing wards first.
Targeted messaging to undecideds. Direct mail, digital ads, phone banking. Focus on key issues: housing repairs, youth safety, town centre. Peer-to-peer outreach.
All-out mobilisation. Knock-up identified Labour voters. Polling station coverage. Transport assistance. "Knock and drag" final day push.
Croydon's diverse communities require targeted multilingual engagement
Platform-specific engagement for voters under 40
Digital infrastructure powering the campaign
Rowenna's four-pillar approach to transforming Croydon
Pre-prepared responses to anticipated opposition attacks
"I've always put this community first - that's why I became a councillor, and that's why I'm running for Mayor. Politics has changed, but my commitment to Croydon has not."
| Week | Phase | Key Activities | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1-2 | KICK OFF | Campaign launch, media blitz, volunteer recruitment, digital infrastructure setup | 500 volunteer signups, 10k social reach |
| Week 3-4 | VOTER ID | Door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, voter identification across all 28 wards | 15,000 voter contacts |
| Week 5-6 | PERSUASION | Targeted messaging to undecideds, direct mail drops, digital advertising surge | 5,000 persuadable contacts |
| Week 7 | GOTV PREP | Confirm Labour supporters, transport arrangements, polling station coverage plans | 25,000 confirmed supporters |
| Week 8 | GOTV | All-out mobilisation, knock-up rounds, election day operations, poll watching | 75%+ Labour turnout |
Brand Identity & Localization
Active Social & Print Deployment
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Professional Campaign Communications
In Service to the Crown and Community
We honour the democratic traditions of the United Kingdom as we participate in local government elections, exercising our civic duty with pride and responsibility.
In Loving Memory
1926 - 2022
"The true measure of all our actions is how long the good in them lasts."
Dear [Resident Name],
I'm Rowenna Davis, your Labour candidate for Mayor of Croydon. As a Waddon councillor with a 100% attendance record, I've spent years listening to residents like you about what matters most.
On May 1st, 2026, you have a choice: continue with four more years of broken promises, or elect someone who will put people first. I'm the only woman in this race, standing against four male opponents, fighting for our community.
My priorities are simple: fix housing repairs, keep our young people safe, revive our town centre, and restore trust in local government.
Together, we can build a Croydon that works for everyone.
Warmly,
Rowenna Davis
Labour Candidate for Mayor
Dear [Resident Name],
Are you tired of waiting months for basic repairs? Under Jason Perry, housing repair times have gotten worse, not better. Families are living with damp, broken heating, and unsafe conditions.
As your Mayor, I will:
Your home should be your sanctuary. Let's make it happen.
Rowenna Davis
Labour Candidate for Mayor
Subject: Request for National Campaign Support - Croydon Mayoral 2026
Dear Campaigns Team,
I am writing to formally request national party support for the Croydon Mayoral campaign. This race represents a significant opportunity to flip a Conservative-held mayoralty in outer London.
Current Position: Labour lost by 2.4% (2,850 votes) in 2022. Our internal polling shows momentum with the right resources.
Requesting:
Croydon can be a Labour success story.
Rowenna Davis
Labour Mayoral Candidate, Croydon
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