Hip hop stars back MP’s plan to help young people in Croydon
Steve Reed MP has welcomed Croydon hip hop stars Krept and Konan to Parliament. The local duo, whose debut album ‘The Long Way Home’ stormed into the music charts at number 2 earlier this summer, came to discuss how they could use their growing popularity as musicians to help make a difference for young people in Croydon North.
Steve showed Krept from Crystal Palace and Konan from Thornton Heath round Parliament before sitting down to discuss problems facing young people in the community. Steve has frequently criticised the Government’s failure to properly tackle the shortage of local primary school places, lack of adequate youth support, cuts to further education and above-average levels of unemployment affecting young people in Croydon North.
Krept and Konan are already developing projects aimed at young people in South London and agreed to work with Steve on initiatives to support young people in Croydon North.
Speaking after the meeting, Steve Reed MP said:
Krept and Konan are inspirational musicians who’ve worked hard to overcome difficulties in their early lives and earn the success they now enjoy. They understand that many young people look up to them as role models, and it’s inspirational that they want to use this to help others make more of their lives.
I’m looking forward to working with Krept and Konan in future. They have made Croydon incredibly proud with what they’ve achieved, but they have never forgotten their roots and are really committed to giving something back to the community they came from.
Steven Reed is Labour MP for Croydon North and Shadow Minister for Children and Families. In 2018 his private member’s bill on reducing violent mental health restraint became law. In June 2019 he launched Labour’s civil society strategy outlining radical plans to empower citizens and communities.
Steve chairs the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network, co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London, was Leader of Lambeth Council 2006-12 where he led the council’s children’s services to become best-rated in the country and pioneered the public-health approach to tackling violent youth crime. He worked in publishing for 16 years and was an elected trade union branch secretary.