Forum Topic

West Putney By Election

Wow! What a result in the above.Conservatives won by 489 votes, taking Claire Gilbert's old seat back from Labour. I wonder why?

Gerry Boyce ● 417d23 Comments

There's always a place in local politics for single issue politics. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.Having many wards that cover different socio-economic areas brings it closer to proportional representation than a simple first-past-the-post type election.See the London Mayoral election as an example. The vast majority of the individual boroughs voted Labour but the London-wide assembly members are topped up in such a way that there is a more representative view of the voting base.

John Kettlekey ● 416d

I think last time they only won west Putney by 80 or so votes so it was always very tight, they must have brought in extra troops from around the borough. Tbf I’m not sure Claire Gilbert was local? I do know that Steffi and Jeremy are though

Emma Blackwell ● 417d

I mentioned previously my surprise that the Labour candidate for the West Putney seat was from Tooting! However, I was just chatting to someone from the area and they said that most of the people canvassing for Labour were also from Tooting or Balham etc. Am I the only one very surprised by this? Are Labour Putney so short of members and talent that they need to bring candidates and activists from other areas? Sorry if I sound naive, but isn’t a ‘local councillor’ supposed to be local?

Gerry Boyce ● 417d

Yes Jane, I agree re both Fleur and Justine, I have respect for both of them.

Maxine Campbell ● 417d

Have to agree re Brighton! But it’s still good to see them gaining in areas, as well as other smaller parties.  Otherwise we will just have a choice of Labour or Conservative for another 100 years!

Emma Blackwell ● 417d

EmmaMy experience in Brighton of the Greens in power is that they are a disaster.Believe it or nor Brighton has one of the worst recycling records in the country  the £40m + debt on the I360 and many other very basic roles of local govt. Once you get past their greeness they simple display no ideas.

Andy Pike ● 417d

I’m really glad the greens are doing wellI’m so sick of the 2 party system…..

Emma Blackwell ● 417d

I seem to recall a thread from a few months back, indeed I offered some advice on how the leaseholders could potentially scupper the plans, vis non derigation leases. Cant remember the name that started the thread sadly.

Andy Pike ● 417d

When looking at councillors, Labour gains are just ahead of the Greens and independents.The Labour view, that working class voters have nowhere else to go is being proved wrong.From Yahoo newsState of play as of 8:10amTotal no of councils - Lab 48 +8 | Lib Dem: 12 + 2| Con: 5 -10 | Ind & Others: 1 | Greens: 0 | NOC: 36 (-1)Councillors - Lab 1,026 (+173) | Lib Dem: 505 (+101) | Con: 479 (-448) | Ind & Others: 224 +92 | Green: 159 (+65)

Ed Robinson ● 417d

And even though this was mentioned yesterday, it seems that you were the only one who took an interest in that point Gerry, even though one of the comments was made by someone who lives around the corner! Funny that……

Emma Blackwell ● 417d

Funny, I noticed that no one was interested in this either. Imagine if everyone living in houses around west Putney were losing parking and parks, as well as old trees being cut down and people boxed in by higher buildings….

Emma Blackwell ● 417d

Indeed John! Maybe you are correct and the result makes no difference at all. It is surprising that the Tories won back the seat so convincingly after losing it to Labour just a few years ago.I had heard that Claire Gilbert was a very popular councillor, which makes this result even more suprising.  Makes me wonder how safe Jeremy Ambache’s  seat is in West Putney; but as John says, it sounds like Labour isn’t too bothered about it.Interestingly, I had a look at the current planning applications for large council infill blocks throughout the Ashburton; in Cortis Road, Innes Gardens and Haywards Gardens, I was surprised to see that there are hundreds of letters of objection mainly from local residents. How come these applications never make it to this forum? Particularly when very small, applications for private extensions with one or two objections are regularly featured here.Maybe they are all just NIMBYS up in the estate and the sooner Labour can get on with building blocks there, the better. After all, who really cares what happens up there or what they have to say about it!

Gerry Boyce ● 417d

What change are you referring to?

Jane Carter ● 417d

"She seems highly regarded, even by non Labour voters"She will not get my vote next time.I think you may be underestimating the change that is happening.

Ed Robinson ● 417d

@Jane Oops sorry, brain addled from listening to LBC election coverage until 3am

Sue Hammond ● 417d

The feeling is that the candidate was brought in to see the housing plans though

Emma Blackwell ● 417d

I wonder why Labour thought it a good idea to bring in a candidate from Tooting : have they none locally that they consider capable enough?

Gerry Boyce ● 417d

On the front page of the forum.

Barbara Stevens ● 417d

It's not an MP, it's a local councillor election.West Putney had 3 councillors; 2 Labour and 1 Conservative.They still have 3 councillors but now it's 2 Conservative and 1 Labour.Overall the council has gone from:* Labour 35, Conservative 22, Independent 1to* Labour 34, Conservative 23, Independent 1So Labour still have a considerable majority.

John Kettlekey ● 417d

But this wasn’t a parliamentary by election so Fleur Anderson is still the MP. She seems highly regarded, even by non Labour voters as was Justine Greening by non Conservative voters . We are lucky in SW15!

Jane Carter ● 417d

Bucking the trend.

Lucille Grant ● 417d

Excellent example of people power being used constructively.  I hope their new MP doesn't disappoint.

Sue Hammond ● 417d

It’s simple reallyThe people from the Ashburton estate turned up in droves to vote because of the Labour Councillors refusal to meet with them regarding building plans. They ignored every single emailAnd this is the result

Emma Blackwell ● 417d