An ex-army bomb disposal officer says Croydon has “effectively lost a decade” as he runs to become the borough’s next executive mayor.
This May, Croydon residents will take to the polls to elect their new executive mayor, deciding whether the borough will continue under Conservative leadership or move in a different political direction.
Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Howard, who moved to Croydon in 2014, said his connection to the borough is deeply personal.
He told Your Local Guardian: “Croydon is home for me, plain and simple.
“I moved here in 2014, just before leaving the Army, and it's where my family has put down roots.
“My four children have grown up here and been educated here, so like many parents, I see Croydon through their eyes as much as my own.
“It's where I run my business, where we're part of the community, and where we've built our life.
“That gives me a very personal stake in what happens here - this isn't abstract politics for me, it's about the place my family lives day in, day out.”
Mr Howard said his time in the army continues to shape how he approaches challenges.
He said: “That instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility, calm decision-making under pressure, and a focus on getting things done - all of which I bring to what I do now.”
He has also been involved in the local community through Scouting, serving as chair of his local Scout group for the past three years.
Croydon’s finances remain a central issue in the election following years of financial difficulty and government intervention.
Mr Howard said: “The biggest challenge, by some distance, is the Council's finances - because that underpins everything else.”
He added that the borough’s financial problems stem from deeper issues.
Croydon has famously landed low in the rankings of places to live and has faced criticism over its reputation in recent years, particularly around crime and safety.
Mr Howard said: “It does sadden me when people talk Croydon down, because the reality is far more positive than the headlines suggest.
“There are real challenges - particularly around crime and safety - and we shouldn't pretend otherwise.
"But that isn't what defines Croydon.
“What people often overlook is the borough's greatest asset: its people.”
Looking back at recent years, Mr Howard said a number of issues point to wider problems at the council.
He said: “There's no single issue - the problem is that too many things have gone wrong at once, and that points to a deeper failure of leadership and grip.”
On the town centre, he said: “Croydon has effectively lost a decade.
“The regeneration model was based on a retail-led vision that was already becoming outdated when it was first conceived.”
He believes the borough should shift towards a model focused on leisure, culture and experience.
If elected, Mr Howard said his priorities would centre on restoring financial discipline, improving transparency, and rebuilding trust in the council.
He said: “Underlying all of that is a simple principle: Croydon should be a well-run council that delivers for its residents.
“Get that right, and everything else becomes possible.”
Mr Howard also stressed that he wants to take a different approach to leadership.
He said: “I'd want residents to know that I'm not coming into this with slogans - I'm coming into it with a clear understanding of the scale of the challenge, and the experience to deal with it.”
Asked how he would celebrate a win, he added: “I might allow myself a small celebration - a sneaky dram of my favourite whisky, Oban 14 Year Old.”
The full list of candidates are:
Richard Michael Howard - Lib Dem
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