Lib Dems Announce Candidates for Local Constituencies
Move seems to rule out any chance of a 'progressive alliance' in the area
Wandsworth Liberal Democrats have been taking to Twitter to line up their candidates for an 8 June following Theresa May's call for a snap General Election.
Tweeting "We're ready" the local party are set to stand against Conservative MPs Justine Greening and Jane Ellison in Putney and Battersea respectively, and Labour's Dr Rosena Allin-Khan in Tooting. This seems to rule out any chance of a 'progressive alliance' with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens cooperating in areas which voted to Remain in the EU Referendum.
Ryan Mercer has said he is standing as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Putney. Calling it the Brexit General Election, Mr Mercer said, "The Lib Dems are the only party campaigning against Theresa May's hard Brexit. Only we will stand up for Putney."
Ryan Mercer
They will be hoping to challenge Education Secretary Justine Greening who holds the seat for the Conservatives with a large majority but where the electorate voted by a large majority to remain in the EU.
| General Election 2015: Putney | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
| Conservative | Justine Greening | 23,018 | 53.8 | +0.8 | |
| Labour | Sheila Boswell | 12,838 | 30.0 | +2.6 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Andrew Hallett | 2,717 | 6.3 | −10.6 | |
| Green | Christopher Poole | 2,067 | 4.8 | +3.4 | |
| UKIP | Patricia Ward | 1,989 | 4.6 | +3.5 | |
| Animal Welfare | Guy Dessoy | 184 | 0.4 | N/A | |
| Majority | 10,180 | 23.8 | -0.8 | ||
| Turnout | 42,813 | 67.0 | +2.6 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -0.9 | |||
He looks set to be joined by Alex Glassbrook for Tooting, who tweeted "Game On" when the election was announced . He was the Liberal Democrat in the recent Tooting by election which was held after Sadiq Khan became Mayor of London. He is a barrister who lives near Wandsworth Common and volunteers for the South West London Law Centre.
The by-election was won comfortably by Dr Rosena Allin-Khan who rebelled against Jeremy Corbyn's three-line whip on the invocation of Article 50.
| By-election 2016: Tooting | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
| Labour | Rosena Allin-Khan | 17,894 | 55.9 | +8.7 | |
| Conservative | Dan Watkins | 11,537 | 36.1 | −5.8 | |
| Green | Esther Obiri-Darko | 830 | 2.6 | −1.5 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Alex Glassbrook | 820 | 2.6 | −1.3 | |
| UKIP | Elizabeth Jones | 507 | 1.6 | −1.3 | |
| Christian Peoples | Des Coke | 164 | 0.5 | +0.5 | |
| Monster Raving Loony | Alan "Howling Laud" Hope | 54 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
| Independent | Zirwa Javaid | 30 | 0.1 | +0.1 | |
| One Love | Ankit Love | 32 | 0.1 | +0.1 | |
| Immigrants Political Party | Akbar Ali Malik | 44 | 0.1 | +0.1 | |
| English Democrat | Graham Moore | 50 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
| Independent | Zia Samadani | 23 | 0.1 | +0.1 | |
| Independent | Smiley Smillie | 5 | 0.0 | +0.0 | |
| Give Me Back Elmo | Bobby Smith | 9 | 0.0 | +0.0 | |
| Majority | 6,357 | 19.9 | +14.6 | ||
| Turnout | 31,763 | 42.5 | −27.2 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | +7.3 | |||
In Battersea it appears to be Richard Davis who is likely to represent the Liberal Democrats. Dr Davis said, "This is our one chance to stop a Tory hard Brexit. Only the Lib Dems can prevent a Tory majority. "
Richard Davis
Last time out the Lib Dems only polled 4.4% of the vote in a constituency that was strongly in favour of leaving the EU.
| General Election 2015: Battersea | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
| Conservative | Jane Ellison | 26,730 | 52.4 | +5.0 | |
| Labour | Will Martindale | 18,792 | 36.8 | +1.7 | |
| Liberal Democrat | Luke Taylor | 2,241 | 4.4 | -10.3 | |
| Green | Joe Stuart | 1,682 | 3.3 | +2.2 | |
| UKIP | Christopher Howe | 1,586 | 3.1 | +2.1 | |
| Majority | 7,938 | 15.6 | +3.4 | ||
| Turnout | 51,031 | 67.0 | +1.3 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.6 | |||
April 19, 2017