Croydon councillor quits after unspecified “serious incident”

By BBC Local Government Correspondent Tara O’Connor

 

A “serious incident” has sparked the shock resignation of a Labour councillor in Croydon.

was elected to represent Fairfield ward in May 2018.

Croydon Labour announced last night Niroshan Sirisena has resigned, effective immediately, following what it would only describe as a “serious incident”.

The statement reads: “Following a serious incident involving Councillor Sirisena the Labour leadership in Croydon have accepted his resignation, effective immediately as a Labour representative of Fairfield ward.

“So as not to prejudice any possible legal proceedings in relation to this matter we will be making no further comment at this time.”

Mr Sirisena’s Twitter account has been disabled but on it he described himself as founder/organiser of Croydon Momentum, the local branch of the grassroots political organisation supporting Jeremy Corbyn.

This morning council leader Councillor Tony Newman said he would not be commenting on the situation further at this time.

But Conservative opposition Cllr Mario Creatura council tax payers had the right to know details of the incident which has resulted in Mr Sirisena losing his job.

He said: “It is important to point out that when you’re elected as a councillor you are elected as part of a team. Lots of activists and volunteers knock and doors and try to get you elected.

“With what’s happened it is not just going to affect him but also those people who have given up their time and I feel regret for what they will be going through too.

“Niroshan was elected to serve the people of Farifield. I understand the council not wanting to interfere with legal matters but that does not mean they should not put out to residents in a clear way what has happened.

“There is an onus on you to conduct yourself in the highest possible standards and you need to be accountable to people for your actions.

“Them turning around and saying they’re not going to engage with the residents is wrong I think we have a right to what happened.

“It is a sad day for open transparency when they refuse to be open.”

Pictured are Cllr Chris Clark, Niroshan Sirisena, Cllr Mary Croos and Cllr Tony Newman on election night in May 2018. Picture: Tara O’Connor.