Councillor training courses held to attract aspiring politicians in Croydon

A new councillor training course has attracted aspiring politicians in Croydon, writes Sharin Hussain.

The Taking the Initiative Party (TTIP) hosted a councillor training course at The Business Xchange Hub in Lansdowne  Road, Croydon, to inspire people from non-political backgrounds to learn more about town halls.

Attendee, Katie Wilson-Downie, 27, of Croydon, said: “It is a party that is inclusive, with real people like myself that are very genuine about the causes they want to campaign about.

“That’s what’s missing in politics – genuine people.”

The TTIP, formed in 2016 to set the agenda in government, wants to field at least 32 candidates for Croydon in the 2022 local council elections, with at least 15 candidates in other wards, such as Lewisham.

Founder Charles Gordon said: “The key with what we’re doing here is to give people the confidence to go in and be leaders, restore their faith in politics and understand what the role is in its most basic form.”

The course includes case studies, the nomination process for local elections, council structure and policies, how to make a speech, codes of conduct and the responsibilities of a councillor.

According to the latest LGA census, 96 per cent of councillors are white, 63 per cent are male and 68 per cent have a degree, while the average age of a councillor is 59.