Boris Johnson announced that £1bn will be pumped into Croydon on Thursday, in a redevelopment plan that will see a new Westfield set up in the South London borough.
The Mayor's rhetoric of confident investment and future prosperity might have been fine oratory but during a photo walkabout he was confronted with evidence of the poverty on Britain's streets.
Someone living rough with his dog looks up to see Boris walking on
Homeless person in South London looks on as Boris walks past
In December, charity Crisis warned homelessness in England has risen by nearly a quarter, and is even higher in London.
The Mayor's office later tweeted:
The Mayor's office told the Huffington Post UK that Boris Johnson did not speak with any rough sleepers whilst in Croydon.