Community Life

The Tories in Croydon are being accused of failing people from ethnic minority communities after Cllr Enley Taylor lost his place in a recent cabinet reshuffle.  He was the Party’s only black cabinet member.

In a statement sent to the BBC Cllr Taylor said: “What we have now is a situation where there is no ethnic minority involvement in senior level decisions because there is no cabinet member or chief officer from the minority communities”.

Cllr Taylor concludes: “My experience is that Croydon residents are not only uncomfortable with this state of affairs, but many find it quite despicable”.

But, in response to a BBC London enquiry about how BME communities in the borough would view this change, the Leader of the council,  Cllr Mike Fisher, stressed it was his job to have a cabinet made up of the 10 people he felt would be best for the role.

"I think the thing you've got to look at is whether or not you appoint someone because of their background, or whether or not you appoint somebody because you think they are the best person for that job", says Cllr Fisher.

To hear more from Cllr Fisher and others on this decision, log onto the video.