Re: Definitely bullshit.
He gigged there but his remark was more likely satirical, based on Croydon - saff of Landon - being the most boring place on the planet.
As any fule no ID was Essex which - how to explain to a non-Brit --- put it this way : If Essex wanted to secede from the UK the rest of the country would vote pro- Essexit with much greater alacrity than they did the other **exit. And the borders would be strengthened immediately to keep them there.