Steven Downes
@sdownes.bsky.social
Father, husband, journalist and author. Winner of Royal Television Society award. Founder InsideCroydon.com. Former Editor of Athletics Weekly. Secretary SJA for 12 years.
Want some writing or editing done, or have a story tip? [email protected]
Want some writing or editing done, or have a story tip? [email protected]
Reposted by Steven Downes
Strictly's real glitterball winners are dressmakers from Croydon insidecroydon.com/2025/12/20/s... #Croydon #PurleyWay #Dance #Strictly
Strictly’s real glitterball winners are dressmakers from Croydon
Whoever receives the glitterball at the end of the BBC’s pro-celebrity Strictly Come Dancing tonight, they will probably be wearing costumes where every stitch of chiffon, every sequin, has b…
insidecroydon.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Strictly's real glitterball winners are dressmakers from Croydon insidecroydon.com/2025/12/20/s... #Croydon #PurleyWay #Dance #Strictly
Reposted by Steven Downes
Flu cases at Croydon hospital almost double in one week insidecroydon.com/2025/12/20/f... #Croydon #NHS #SuperFlu @keepournhspublic.bsky.social
Flu cases at Croydon hospital almost double in one week
Officials from the NHS in London have repeated their appeals for people to get vaccinated against this season’s flu, as hospitals in the capital face their toughest winter pressures, and the …
insidecroydon.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Flu cases at Croydon hospital almost double in one week insidecroydon.com/2025/12/20/f... #Croydon #NHS #SuperFlu @keepournhspublic.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
Coulsdon trail recalls era when mammoths roamed the hills insidecroydon.com/2025/12/20/c... #Croydon #Coulsdon #History #Mammoths
Coulsdon trail recalls era when mammoths roamed the hills
There was a time, about 20,000 years ago, when in the area where today a few cattle graze on Farthing Downs and Coulsdon locals take their pet pooches for a daily walk, there roamed across the land…
insidecroydon.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Coulsdon trail recalls era when mammoths roamed the hills insidecroydon.com/2025/12/20/c... #Croydon #Coulsdon #History #Mammoths
Reposted by Steven Downes
Kemi Badenoch's Dead Cat Bounce
open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
Kemi Badenoch's Dead Cat Bounce
Why the attempts to pretend Kemi Badenoch's leadership of the Conservative Party has been anything other than an unmitigated disaster simply won't wash
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Kemi Badenoch's Dead Cat Bounce
open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
Reposted by Steven Downes
Reposted by Steven Downes
"The lives of the Palestine Action-affiliated remand prisoners now on hunger strike are at growing risk. On Friday, two reached day 48 without food. (In 1981, one IRA prisoner – 29-year-old Martin Hurson – died on the 46th day.)" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the Palestine Action hunger strikers: the government is trying to ignore this protest | Editorial
Editorial: Doctors have warned that the lives of these prisoners are now in danger. Pretending this is not happening is not good enough
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:45 AM
"The lives of the Palestine Action-affiliated remand prisoners now on hunger strike are at growing risk. On Friday, two reached day 48 without food. (In 1981, one IRA prisoner – 29-year-old Martin Hurson – died on the 46th day.)" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Steven Downes
December 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Steven Downes
UK CEO salary increases outstripping those of the workforce.
Remuneration Committees & non-execs perpetuate fat-cattery as rises provide a benchmark for their greed.
Need worker-elected directors on boards of large companies, workers to vote on exec pay to secure equitable distribution of income.
Remuneration Committees & non-execs perpetuate fat-cattery as rises provide a benchmark for their greed.
Need worker-elected directors on boards of large companies, workers to vote on exec pay to secure equitable distribution of income.
CEO salary: an opportunity cost? - High Pay Centre
Against the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, data highlights a worrying trend: CEO salary increases outstripping those of the wider workforce.
highpaycentre.org
December 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
UK CEO salary increases outstripping those of the workforce.
Remuneration Committees & non-execs perpetuate fat-cattery as rises provide a benchmark for their greed.
Need worker-elected directors on boards of large companies, workers to vote on exec pay to secure equitable distribution of income.
Remuneration Committees & non-execs perpetuate fat-cattery as rises provide a benchmark for their greed.
Need worker-elected directors on boards of large companies, workers to vote on exec pay to secure equitable distribution of income.
Reposted by Steven Downes
The Society of Editors has raised concerns about Keir Starmer’s plan to reduce scrutiny of No 10 by political journalists, saying it risks weakening transparency.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Society of Editors decries Starmer’s plan to reduce media scrutiny of No 10
Body representing news organisations says move to cut back on number of lobby briefings is deeply concerning
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:58 AM
The Society of Editors has raised concerns about Keir Starmer’s plan to reduce scrutiny of No 10 by political journalists, saying it risks weakening transparency.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Steven Downes
All the flexing, the pomp, the ceremony, the gold and bluff conceals the fact that Russia is rotting from the inside out ... poke the bear, and it will crumble.
A united front and an actual American president rather than a preening buffoon would see the end of Putin
time.com/7341064/trum...
A united front and an actual American president rather than a preening buffoon would see the end of Putin
time.com/7341064/trum...
Why Trump Should Call Putin’s Bluff Now
Russia's "economy is disintegrating, and their military prowess is inferior to that of Ukraine."
time.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:42 PM
All the flexing, the pomp, the ceremony, the gold and bluff conceals the fact that Russia is rotting from the inside out ... poke the bear, and it will crumble.
A united front and an actual American president rather than a preening buffoon would see the end of Putin
time.com/7341064/trum...
A united front and an actual American president rather than a preening buffoon would see the end of Putin
time.com/7341064/trum...
Reposted by Steven Downes
Nobody works this hard for this long to cover up something this bad unless they are guilty.
December 20, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Nobody works this hard for this long to cover up something this bad unless they are guilty.
Reposted by Steven Downes
MP Jones putting her Croydon constituents on remote control insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/m... #Croydon #Gaza #Palestine #HungerStrike @left-foot-forward.bsky.social
MP Jones putting her Croydon constituents on remote control
A Croydon MP who receives almost £200,000 per year to pay for aides and a constituency office has her phone staffed for just four hours each week. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, on how at least…
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
MP Jones putting her Croydon constituents on remote control insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/m... #Croydon #Gaza #Palestine #HungerStrike @left-foot-forward.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
sad that i won’t see any more assemblages in his window on the way to the pet shop or chip shop.
Strange world evoked by surreal assemblages of NDP Fraser insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/s... #Croydon #Art #NDPFraser @c20society.bsky.social @kentowl.bsky.social
Strange world evoked by surreal assemblages of NDP Fraser
There was a one-day-only, not-to-be-missed art exhibition in a house on Portland Road. KEN TOWL made sure he didn’t miss it I went to Portland Road the other Saturday, to see what was behind …
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
sad that i won’t see any more assemblages in his window on the way to the pet shop or chip shop.
Reposted by Steven Downes
Strange world evoked by surreal assemblages of NDP Fraser insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/s... #Croydon #Art #NDPFraser @c20society.bsky.social @kentowl.bsky.social
Strange world evoked by surreal assemblages of NDP Fraser
There was a one-day-only, not-to-be-missed art exhibition in a house on Portland Road. KEN TOWL made sure he didn’t miss it I went to Portland Road the other Saturday, to see what was behind …
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Strange world evoked by surreal assemblages of NDP Fraser insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/s... #Croydon #Art #NDPFraser @c20society.bsky.social @kentowl.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
FA Cup is going on public display in Crystal Palace Subway insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/f... #Croydon #CPFC #FACup @theeaglesbeak.bsky.social @fiveyearplan.bsky.social @holmesdaleusa.bsky.social
FA Cup is going on public display in Crystal Palace Subway
The FA Cup, Crystal Palace’s first silverware in 120 years, will be going on public display in the Crystal Palace Subway for three days next month. Crystal Palace FC, and arts group calling i…
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
FA Cup is going on public display in Crystal Palace Subway insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/f... #Croydon #CPFC #FACup @theeaglesbeak.bsky.social @fiveyearplan.bsky.social @holmesdaleusa.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
The Choral, Nuremberg, Hamlet: David Lean Cinema, Jan 2026 insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/t... #Croydon #Cinema @davidleancinema.bsky.social
The Choral, Nuremberg, Hamlet: David Lean Cinema, Jan 2026
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:19 AM
The Choral, Nuremberg, Hamlet: David Lean Cinema, Jan 2026 insidecroydon.com/2025/12/19/t... #Croydon #Cinema @davidleancinema.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
It is a bad idea for the Commonwealth Games to not be free to air. Glasgow 2026 may struggle for impact and visibility as a result of preferring this bid
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
BBC outbid by TNT Sports for 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games
TNT will broadcast the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after outbidding long-time rights holder BBC
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:20 PM
It is a bad idea for the Commonwealth Games to not be free to air. Glasgow 2026 may struggle for impact and visibility as a result of preferring this bid
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Reposted by Steven Downes
A gentle reminder if you've received an invoice from a Freelancer/Self employed person which is due before Christmas.
Be a love, and pay it today.
Be a love, and pay it today.
December 19, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A gentle reminder if you've received an invoice from a Freelancer/Self employed person which is due before Christmas.
Be a love, and pay it today.
Be a love, and pay it today.
Reposted by Steven Downes
Let's all send a clear message to Mayor Perry this Christmas insidecroydon.com/2025/12/12/l... #Croydon #CroydonInCrisis @left-foot-forward.bsky.social @ottoenglish.bsky.social
Let’s all send a clear message to Mayor Perry this Christmas
It’s the time of year when a little bit of kindness can go a long way. With Croydon’s second mayoral election now little more than four months away, households across Croydon have the o…
insidecroydon.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Let's all send a clear message to Mayor Perry this Christmas insidecroydon.com/2025/12/12/l... #Croydon #CroydonInCrisis @left-foot-forward.bsky.social @ottoenglish.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
This week's top posts: Further 48-hour delay for opening of 'Spoons at Coombe Lodge insidecroydon.com/2025/12/15/f... #Croydon #Pubs #Wetherspoons @camraofficial.bsky.social @thevicsoc.bsky.social
Further 48-hour delay for opening of ‘Spoons at Coombe Lodge
After a £1m refurbishment, Wetherspoons’ first new pub to open in Croydon since 2000 will create 80 jobs The first new Wetherspoons pub to open in Croydon for 25 years has been delayed by a f…
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This week's top posts: Further 48-hour delay for opening of 'Spoons at Coombe Lodge insidecroydon.com/2025/12/15/f... #Croydon #Pubs #Wetherspoons @camraofficial.bsky.social @thevicsoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
This week's top posts: All change on the High Street with another fried chicken shop insidecroydon.com/2025/12/16/a... #Croydon #DavesHotChicken #Westfield #Whitgift @daveshotchicken.bsky.social @propertyweek.bsky.social
All change on the High Street with another fried chicken shop
Our retailing correspondent, MT WALLETTE, on a Christmas rush with a difference – of businesses opening new premises in central Croydon Six high street businesses are locating, or re-locating…
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM
This week's top posts: All change on the High Street with another fried chicken shop insidecroydon.com/2025/12/16/a... #Croydon #DavesHotChicken #Westfield #Whitgift @daveshotchicken.bsky.social @propertyweek.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
This week's top posts: Finance chief leaves council three months sooner than planned insidecroydon.com/2025/12/13/f... #Croydon #CroydonInCrisis #Commissioners @dluhcmedia.blog.gov.uk.web.brid.gy @patrickjbutler.bsky.social
Finance chief leaves council three months sooner than planned
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Weeks after the abrupt departure of CEO Katherine Kerswell with a £50,000 ‘farewell present’, the early exit of head of finance Jane West prompts speculation that she…
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
This week's top posts: Finance chief leaves council three months sooner than planned insidecroydon.com/2025/12/13/f... #Croydon #CroydonInCrisis #Commissioners @dluhcmedia.blog.gov.uk.web.brid.gy @patrickjbutler.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
This week's top posts: Labour government to give Croydon £120m funding boost insidecroydon.com/2025/12/17/l... #Croydon #CroydonInCrisis @the-independent.com @theguardian.com
Labour government to give Croydon £120m funding boost
Multiple-year settlements for councils in England and an end to the postcode lottery that has been local authority funding from Whitehall, as £78bn is allocated in effort to ‘end deprivation&…
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This week's top posts: Labour government to give Croydon £120m funding boost insidecroydon.com/2025/12/17/l... #Croydon #CroydonInCrisis @the-independent.com @theguardian.com
Reposted by Steven Downes
This week's top posts: Mayday Hospital among worst for numbers of 'super flu' cases insidecroydon.com/2025/12/12/m... #Croydon #Flu #SuperFlu @keepournhspublic.bsky.social @nhsmillion.bsky.social
Mayday Hospital among worst for numbers of ‘super flu’ cases
Croydon’s NHS Trust is among the worst-hit in the country for cases of the latest “mutant” flu virus, according to weekly data released today. Nationally, the number of patients i…
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This week's top posts: Mayday Hospital among worst for numbers of 'super flu' cases insidecroydon.com/2025/12/12/m... #Croydon #Flu #SuperFlu @keepournhspublic.bsky.social @nhsmillion.bsky.social
Reposted by Steven Downes
This week's top posts: Labour's new 'Lord Len' might yet play role in 445-flat scheme insidecroydon.com/2025/12/15/l... #Croydon #Planning #Bingle #Lobbying @londoncentric.media @bylinesnetwork.co.uk
Labour’s new ‘Lord Len’ might yet play role in 445-flat scheme
Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on the revolving door between City Hall, south London councils and lobbying firms, and how that might play a part in this week’s big residential scheme at C…
insidecroydon.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This week's top posts: Labour's new 'Lord Len' might yet play role in 445-flat scheme insidecroydon.com/2025/12/15/l... #Croydon #Planning #Bingle #Lobbying @londoncentric.media @bylinesnetwork.co.uk