The battle for Croydon North

Following the sad death of Malcolm Wicks MP, five candidates have spent every waking hour trying to convince an already cynical electorate that voting for them will change their fortunes. All of the five candidates, I have no doubt will not rest until forced to at midnight tonight. Then as morning breaks the voters will decide.

Leader of Lambeth Council Steve Reed, the Labour candidate is still a strong favourite. He should be - Labour have a 16,000 majority. By any stretch of the imagination, if Lee Jasper were to do the impossible, it would send shock waves not just across the Labour Party, but right through the political establishment.

Liberal Democrat candidate Marisha Ray, UKIP flambouyant candidate Winston Mackenzie and Conservative candidate Andrew Stranack will all feel they have a political point to prove.

Above all, we at OBV hope that all BME communities use their democratic franchise and vote.

Vote now, hold them to account later. It couldn’t be simpler.

Simon Woolley