Tuesday already, and the post-election dust is nowhere near settled. While Mayor Perry gets his feet under the desk for Term 2, the parties around him are scrambling to figure out what just happened. Labour's in leadership flux, the Greens have a controversy on their hands before they've even taken their seats, and there's actually some good news for your commute this summer. Let's get into it.

What's on in Croydon today and this week:

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🎤 BYOB Poetry Night -- Tonight, 6:30pm-10pm, BOXPARK Croydon (FREE)
💃 Cuban Salsa Class -- Tonight, 7pm-10pm, BOXPARK Croydon
🚂 The Bluebell Railway Through My Lens -- Tonight, 7:30pm, East Croydon United Reformed Church (Free)
🎥 Macbeth -- Tonight, 7:30pm, Royal Russell School, Coombe Lane (Tickets £15)
🎲 Box Bingo: Croydon Twist -- Fri 15 May, 6pm-9pm, BOXPARK Croydon
🎥 Patel's Millions 2 -- Sat 16 May, Fairfield Ashcroft Theatre

🏗️ Labour in Leadership Limbo -- Who leads the opposition?
🌿 Green councillor elected despite national suspension
🚋 Good news for your commute -- Weekend Hopper fare this summer
🏗️ Perry's £1.2bn regeneration promise -- what's actually happening?
📅 Tuesday Theme: The hung council -- how does it actually work?
⚡ Pulse Points: BYOB Poetry, Cuban Salsa, Bluebell Railway talk, Macbeth, Box Bingo, Patel's Millions 2
📊 This week's poll: The Greens' #1 priority

🏗️ LABOUR IN LEADERSHIP LIMBO -- WHO LEADS THE OPPOSITION?
Stuart King faces a possible leadership challenge after Labour's mixed election showing. The party's shadow cabinet was decimated in an internal cull -- only three of nine survived. Rowenna Davis, who came within 1,113 votes of becoming Mayor, retained her council seat and is seen by many as the natural successor. But insiders say she may decline, preferring to avoid the ongoing political crossfire. With Labour holding 30 seats but unable to pass budgets without Green and Lib Dem support (a two-thirds threshold is needed to overturn Perry's budget), the opposition's next move matters enormously.
Source: insidecroydon.com

🌿 GREEN COUNCILLOR ELECTED DESPITE NATIONAL SUSPENSION
Mark Adderley -- husband of TV presenter Nadia Sawalha -- was elected as a Green councillor for Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood ward despite being suspended by the national Green Party before polling day over social media posts linked to antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories. No formal finding of fault was made and his membership wasn't rescinded; Adderley denied all allegations. The Croydon Green Party initially urged voters to back him. The case has intensified scrutiny of the Greens' candidate vetting process -- awkward timing for a party celebrating its best-ever Croydon result.
Source: southlondonnews.co.uk

🚋 GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR COMMUTE -- WEEKEND HOPPER FARE THIS SUMMER
Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a Weekend Hopper fare for London buses and trams from 25 July to 31 August. For a flat £1.75, you get unlimited travel all day on weekends -- the one-hour limit is dropped entirely. That means Croydon tram riders can hop on and off all day for the price of a single journey. It's part of a £20m initiative to get people back on public transport and ease cost-of-living pressure. Fares remain frozen at £1.75 until July.
Source: insidecroydon.com / london.gov.uk

🏗️ PERRY'S £1.2BN REGENERATION PROMISE -- WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING?
With Term 2 underway, Perry is pointing to over £1.2 billion of inward investment secured since 2022 as proof Croydon is back on track. Westfield and Whitgift/Centrale regeneration plans are progressing, work around East Croydon Station is advancing, and new shops have opened in Allders Parade. But critics argue planning control has actually worsened under Perry, with developers getting too much sway. Perry's 100-day priorities are due "in the coming weeks." Watch this space.
Source: jasonperry.uk / insidecroydon.com

🚋THE TRAM THAT CONNECTS CROYDON

There's something quietly brilliant about the Croydon tram network. It's the only tram system in London -- 28km of track, 39 stops, connecting Wimbledon to Beckenham and New Addington to Elmers End. On a good day, it's faster than the bus, cheaper than the Tube, and genuinely pleasant. On a bad day, well -- you know.

But this summer, for six weekends from late July, it becomes something even better: a flat £1.75 all-day pass. Families heading to Fairfield Halls, shoppers cutting across to Centrale, kids going to the park in Mitcham -- all for the price of a single fare.

It's a small thing. But in a borough where cost-of-living pressure is real and public transport is a lifeline for thousands, small things matter.

📅 TUESDAY THEME: THE HUNG COUNCIL -- HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK?
Croydon has a unique governance structure. Here's what the hung council actually means in practice:

Mayor Perry holds executive power -- he sets the budget, runs the council, and makes key decisions. He doesn't need a council majority to govern day-to-day.

But to pass his budget, he needs the council not to block it. Blocking requires a two-thirds majority (47 of 70 seats). Labour (30) + Greens (8) + Lib Dems (2) = 40. Not enough to block without Reform UK (2) joining them.

The Greens are the real kingmakers. Their 8 seats give them genuine leverage -- Perry will need to negotiate with them on environment, housing, and community spaces to avoid budget battles.

Government Commissioners remain in place overseeing Croydon's finances -- a legacy of the 2020 bankruptcy. Perry's stated goal is to end Commissioner oversight by the end of Term 2.

Reform UK's 2 seats in New Addington South are a wildcard. Their voting patterns in the chamber will be closely watched.

Bottom line: Perry governs, but he governs carefully.

🎤 BYOB POETRY NIGHT -- TONIGHT (6:30pm-10pm, BOXPARK Croydon, FREE)
Hosted by Woodzy with DJ Haroon Khan on the decks between sets. Free entry but tickets recommended. boxpark.co.uk

💃 CUBAN SALSA CLASS -- TONIGHT (7pm-10pm, BOXPARK Croydon)
All levels welcome, no experience needed. Tickets via Eventbrite.

🚂 THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY THROUGH MY LENS -- TONIGHT (7:30pm, East Croydon United Reformed Church)
Photography talk from the East Croydon Community Organisation. Free, all welcome.

🎥 MACBETH -- TONIGHT (7:30pm, Royal Russell School, Coombe Lane)
Year 10 and 12 students perform a modern reimagining set in a restaurant empire. Tickets £15.

🎲 BOX BINGO: CROYDON TWIST -- Fri 15 May (6pm-9pm, BOXPARK Croydon)
Croydon-themed bingo night. Tickets via Eventbrite.

🎥 PATEL'S MILLIONS 2 -- Sat 16 May (Fairfield Ashcroft Theatre)
Bollywood comedy sequel. Tickets at fairfield.co.uk.

DID YOU KNOW?
Croydon's tram network -- Tramlink -- carried over 30 million passengers a year before the pandemic. It's the busiest tram system in the UK outside of Manchester's Metrolink. And this summer, for six weekends, you can ride it all day for £1.75.

ONLY IN CROYDON
Where else would you get a hung council, a Green councillor controversy, a Labour leadership crisis, AND a tram fare deal -- all before Wednesday? Croydon doesn't do quiet weeks.

THIS WEEK'S POLL:
The Greens now hold the balance of power in Croydon. What should their #1 priority be?
🌿 Push Perry hard on environment and green spaces
🏘️ Fight for more affordable housing
🎨 Protect community venues and arts funding
🚲 Focus on transport and active travel

Reply and let us know 👇