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General Election 2019: Meet the Croydon North candidates

By Sophie Donovan and Milly Veitch
November 15 2019, 17.25

Labour candidate Steve Reed retained the seat in 2017 with 44,213 votes and a 74.2% share. 

His winning margin of 54.3% in 2017 was the 27th biggest in the country. 

The turnout at the last election was 68.2% and the constituency voted 58.83% to remain in the EU referendum.

Croydon North has the largest electorate of the three Croydon seats and has been held by Labour since its re-creation in 1997.

Dr Claire Bonham (Liberal Democrats) 

Dr Bonham has a PHD in International Relations from the University of Exeter, alongside 15 years’ experience in the voluntary sector. Her interests include helping children and the elderly as well as victims of crime and homelessness.

Alongside her responsibilities as the Salvation’s Army strategic lead for volunteering, Dr Bonham stood as the Liberal Democrat local council candidate in Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood in 2018.

Twitter: @ClaireBonham

Rachel Chance (Green Party)

Rachel Chance has previously worked in charity, sustainability and digital sectors. She previously stood in the Croydon local elections as the Green Party candidate in Norbury & Pollards Hill in 2019 and in Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood in 2018.

In January she pledged not to fly in 2019 in an effort to cut down on global carbon emissions. 

Twitter: @Flemwah

Donald Ekekhomen (Conservative)

Donald Ekekhomen works as a pharmacist and is a married father and Christian. He was the last of the candidates for Croydon North to be announced.

He began campaigning on Remembrance Sunday, tweeting: “Time is up for Steve Reed and he has to go!”

He spoke at last year’s Conservative Party Conference and has been mentored by justice minister Chris Philp, who is standing for re-election in Croydon South.

Twitter: @DonaldEkekhomen

Steve Reed (Labour)

Steve Reed was born and raised in St Albans, Hertfordshire and joined the Labour Party before going on to study English at Sheffield University.

He was previously the Leader of Lambeth Council from 2006 to 2012 before taking over the Croydon North seat in 2012 after the death of Labour MP Malcolm Wicks.

He was awarded an OBE in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to local government.  

Twitter: @SteveReedMP

Chidi Ngwaba (Brexit)

Dr Chidi Ngwaba is a doctor, who has worked in the NHS for most of his career. He was originally the Brexit Party’s candidate for Beckenham until Nigel Farage withdrew names from Conservative held constituencies.

Twitter: @brexitparty_uk

Candace Mitchell (Christian Peoples’ Alliance)

Twitter: @christianorguk

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