Croydon Councillor Mark Adderley Receives Apology and Settlement from Mail Publishers

Mark Adderley, an independent councillor for Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, has received an apology and financial settlement from the publishers of the *Daily Mail* and *Metro*. The settlement follows allegations that his public support for Palestine was misrepresented as antisemitic, a claim Adderley described as putting his family at significant personal risk.

Adderley, elected in May 2026, wrote in *Inside Croydon* that the accusations caused him and his wife, television presenter Nadia Sawalha, mental and emotional distress. He stated that being labelled as supporting terrorism was among the most damaging allegations he had faced.

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Allegations of Coordinated Campaign

Adderley suggested the media coverage was part of a broader effort involving local Labour Party figures. He named Croydon North MP Steve Reed, Labour Party chair Anna Turley, and Croydon Council leader Stuart King as participants in what he described as an attempt to undermine him politically.

Reed was cited by Adderley as having contributed to right-wing publications, while King and Turley were accused of amplifying the narrative. Adderley did not provide evidence of direct coordination but said the pattern of attacks made such a conclusion plausible.

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The fact that the Daily Mail and other publications felt it could do this without consequence was quite mind-boggling. It put me and my family at great personal risk and under huge mental and emotional anguish.

Mark Adderley, councillor for Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood

Response and Next Steps

Neither Reed, King, nor Turley have publicly responded to Adderley’s allegations. Croydon Council told *Inside Croydon* it would not comment on individual councillors’ legal matters. The Labour Party has not issued a statement regarding the claims.

Adderley remains an independent councillor at Croydon Town Hall. He has not disclosed the terms of the settlement or whether he intends to pursue further legal action. In his *Inside Croydon* article, he described the outcome as the first of many potential victories against those he accuses of defamation.

The case follows a wider debate about the boundaries between criticism of Israeli government policies and antisemitism. Adderley argued that conflating the two undermines genuine efforts to combat racism.