Stuart King for Putney

East Putney and Thamesfield branch nominations

The first two ward branches met tonight to nominate the candidates they'd like to appear on the final shortlist for the 10th June hustings: East Putney and Thamesfield.

The selection process has three stages - first, branch members meet to decide who they'd like to shortlist. Each branch (and a branch is a council ward, of which there are six in the constituency) has three nominations: for a man, a woman and a candidate of either gender from a black or minority ethnic community. Only those of us who applied last month for consideration can be nominated. Those nominations go forward to a shortlisting meeting next month, and finally the shortlisted candidates go on to a hustings meeting on 10th June.

Members make their decisions on the basis of the formal application CVs we each submitted at the beginning of the process, plus any extra information candidates may have sent out themselves in the meantime, and of course whether or not they've met or heard of us.

For me it was a great start to the process: I received the nominations of both branches. Thank you to both wards for giving me your nominations: I really appreciate it.
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Meeting the members...officially (part 2)

On Thursday all the prospective candidates for Putney were invited to address the local Labour Party's General Committee meeting at Putney Library. About twelve or so of those who applied a couple of weeks ago joined me at the meeting. I talked about why my local roots, my experience as a councillor and lifelong borough resident and my commitment as a tried and tested campaigner against Wandsworth's brand of right-wing Tories. No votes were cast at that meeting: it was just an extra chance to meet members, but I have received some good feedback about my presentation.

On now to the ward nomination meetings, which begin next week...
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Meeting the members...officially!

Saturday was the first 'official' opportunity for prospective candidates like me to meet members and discuss our candidacies and your ideas for making Putney Labour again. Of course, I've been doing precisely this for over three weeks as part of my selection campaign, as well as counting many members as good friends going back years. The event at Putney Labour Party headquarters in Felsham Road was attended by nine of the 20 or so applicants and many of the most active members of the constituency. It was both good and bad to see so many familiar faces among the members: good because I've already had a chance to talk to them but bad because it reminds me how much larger a constituency party we need to build in the next two years in order to compete effectively at the general election. After the meeting we all had lunch and then delivered some editions of Putney Labour News featuring the Conservative Council's shameful efforts to close Wandsworth Museum, before I went back to calling personally on local members - this time in Thamesfield ward (which for those of you who don't think in terms of council ward names is Putney riverside - central Putney broadly north of Upper Richmond Road from Putney Common in the west to the River Wandle in the east.
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Back to Roehampton!

After playing my Sunday league football game today in Putney Vale (alas, we lost!) I went up the Hill to call on a few more of the Roehampton members who weren't in a fortnight ago when I was last out and about here.

Again, I was delighted that even with the wonderful weather a lot of members were home, and with the friendly reception I got.

I know how much more impressed I am when a candidate seeking my support calls round personally to see me - and it's the least you should be able to expect from anyone aspiring to represent you at Westminster, so I'll continue working my way around the constituency, talking directly to as many of you as possible between now and the selection hustings.

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Out and about in East Putney

Today on a beautiful warm Saturday I've been visiting members in East Putney: the photos below are of Keswick Road, Askill Drive and Lytton Grove - just some of the areas I was out and about in today.

East Putney is a ward that goes all over the place - as well as the area immediately surrounding East Putney tube station, it also runs up the V-shape formed by West Hill and Putney Hill, over into areas many people regard as Southfields or Wandsworth town in the east, and across Putney Hill to include the Lower Ashburton estate and some of the leafy streets further down the hill.

One of my key messages during this campaign is that even in areas that vote so heavily Tory in council elections like East Putney there are loads of Labour supporters too, especially in general elections - tucked away in small estates like the Portinscale, Lower Ashburton and Strathan Close, but also in the streets. In General Elections, East Putney is a very competitive ward: in fact the Conservatives' share of the vote actually FELL here at the last general election.

I'm pledging to seek support across the whole constituency, not just the estates - and a key reason I'm asking for backing is because, due to my mix of local roots, local knowledge and life experience I can communicate well with the whole constituency, not just one particular section of it.

The Portinscale Estate centred on Askill Drive is one of many smaller council estates scattered around the constituency.

Keswick Road has over 300 East Putney residents, and several Labour Party members.

Lytton Grove - another important road in East Putney, with another of Putney's smaller council estates off it: the Kersfield Road estate.

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Application deadline passes

The deadline for applications to seek the Parliamentary nomination for Putney closed today. Almost any Labour Party member can apply for consideration and twenty four of us did so. Good news for me is that there are only four candidates with any local ties - and I'd like to think my long association with both the constituency and the local party make me a strong choice from among us.
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On the phones with Southfields members

I spent this evening chatting on the phone with members, mainly in Southfields. Those I spoke to provided a range of useful insights on a diverse range of issues from the pending Labour leadership to why the cricket world cup is on for so long! And I reconnected with someone I went to Allfarthing Primary School with more years ago than I like to remember - and he's supporting me!

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Discussions with Party and Branch officers

I spent this evening on the phone talking to many of the stalwart local members who keep Putney Labour Party going: the activists who run our ward parties, Constituency-wide officers and delegates to our General Committee - the party's local decision-making body. This selection campaign is giving me a great opportunity to discuss the key issues locally and nationally with members, and the response so far has been really encouraging.
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Out and about in West Hill and Roehampton

I've started pounding the streets to talk to as many Putney members as possible before the selection hustings. This weekend I've been working my way round the council wards of West Hill and Roehampton, calling on members living in places like Victoria Drive, Sutherland Grove, Castlecombe Drive, Dilton Gardens and Tunworth Crescent.