376:. He remained active in political circles, and attended the 2010 Labour Party Conference in Manchester. By 2011 Pelling had joined the Labour Party. In June 2013 it was announced Pelling would contest the marginal seat of Waddon in the upcoming Croydon Council elections. He was elected to Croydon Council on 22 May 2014.
361:
He has been quoted in 2010 as saying "Independence has allowed me to do politics differently, enabling me to put
Croydon residents ahead of party politics and to lobby effectively for Croydon by being non-partisan. I do not have to obey party bosses and so can speak out for Croydon and on issues like
357:
In
December 2007, Pelling announced that he would not seek re-election for Parliament nor the London Assembly, but he subsequently decided to contest the Croydon Central seat as an independent, saying "I am very much up for representing Croydon for another term, there are lots of important issues to
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ward and later represented the ward of
Heathfield. He served as Chair, first of the Education Committee in the early 1990s and subsequently became Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group when they lost control of the Council in 1994. From 2002 until 2005, he was the leader of the Conservative group
386:
documentary "The Labour Files" it was revealed that much of the evidence used to prove Andrew
Pelling had been leaking to the press was obtained through an email hacking against the blog "Inside Croydon", and that the Chief Whip, with permission from the London Regional Officer, used these hacked
339:, which would have seen the Houses of Parliament and MPs exempted from the disclosure requirements of the Act. However, he was 625th out of 646 MPs in the expenses league table and did not take a second-home allowance.
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In
February 2022, Andrew Pelling was expelled from the Labour Party for leaks to the press, campaigning for a directly-elected mayor, and voting against the party on council tax cuts.
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received a complaint. He was released on bail later that night after being questioned. The police later announced that no charges were to be made against
Pelling nor would the
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411:' roots, angered by their culture wars and believing that Britain was best suited inside Europe. Pelling was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in the new seat of
257:
in
February 2011 but was subsequently expelled from Labour in February 2022. In early 2024 he joined the Liberal Democrats, and stood unsuccessfully for the party in the
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Pelling was married to Sanae for 16 years, and the couple had three children. In 2006, Pelling married Lucy. They have since separated after allegations of assault.
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454:. Croydon Central MP had whip removed in 2007 but will fight seat again at election – potentially splitting Tory vote in key marginal.
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On 28 May 2007 Pelling was one of 18 Conservative MPs to vote in favour of an amendment to the
Freedom of Information Act proposed by
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According to
Pelling's own website, "The Leader of London's Green Party once called me 'the acceptable face of Conservatism'."
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emails as evidence during the disciplinary case. It was also revealed that these hacked communications had been sent to
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immigration, an EU membership referendum and foolish overseas wars that the parties prefer not to speak of."
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speak about." He said that as an independent, he had the political freedom to best serve
Croydon.
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On 18 September 2007 Pelling was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife Lucy after the
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Pelling and his family have lived in Croydon for six generations. He was educated at
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651:"Croydon councillor expelled after demanding leader resign over Fairfield Halls"
448:"Tories dealt blow as MP Andrew Pelling announces he will stand as independent"
230:(born 20 August 1959) is a British politician. He was Member of Parliament for
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704:"Veteran Croydon politician stands for third political party in the borough"
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563:"Croydon MP Andrew Pelling to fight general election as an independent"
289:. Before becoming a full-time politician, Pelling was an international
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in Croydon and stepped down from the Council in 2006 after 24 years.
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As an independent Pelling lost his seat to the Conservatives at the
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prosecute. The allegations caused the Conservatives to remove the
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Independent members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
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731:"Putting Croydon First: the reasons I am now a Liberal Democrat"
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in 2000, and retained his seat in 2004. He was a member of the
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Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Andrew Pelling MP
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Presidents of the Oxford University Conservative Association
407:. Describing the Conservatives as out of touch with their '
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In March 2024, Pelling switched party allegiance to the
762:. Telegraph Media Group. September 2007. Archived from
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Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
281:. He was elected to the position of Librarian of the
905:People educated at Trinity School of John Whitgift
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910:Liberal Democrats (UK) parliamentary candidates
756:"It's over, says wife of MP in 'assault' claim"
614:"Former Croydon Tory MP joins the Labour party"
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639:, 12 June 2013; Retrieved 27 October 2013
780:Andrew Pelling MP Putting Croydon first
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790:TheyWorkForYou.com – Andrew Pelling MP
316:and chaired the GLA budget committee.
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616:. Croydon Guardian. 22 February 2011.
389:Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
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649:O'Connor, Tara (22 February 2022).
540:"MP to stand down at next election"
492:"MP quizzed over 'assault on wife'"
446:Press Association (30 March 2010).
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57:6 May 2005 – 12 April 2010
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795:Biography from the London Assembly
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514:"MP will not face assault charges"
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729:Pelling, Andrew (28 March 2024).
561:Whalley, Kirsty (30 March 2010).
458:from the original on 3 April 2010
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308:Pelling was first elected to the
804:Parliament of the United Kingdom
590:. Andrew Pelling. Archived from
588:"Andrew – Putting Croydon first"
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108:4 May 2000 – 1 May 2008
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480:. My London. 22 February 2022.
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234:from 2005 to 2010, first as a
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915:Labour Party (UK) councillors
865:Alumni of New College, Oxford
680:Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
516:. BBC News. 20 October 2007.
494:. BBC News. 19 September 2007
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676:"The Labour Files"
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384:Al Jazeera
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150:1959-08-20
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