Selection manifesto
Over the past couple of months I've been working my way around the constituency and have now managed to speak with over half of the membership: more than all the other candidates put together. Selecting your parliamentary candidate is one of the biggest responsibilities local members have and it's important you have as much information about where your candidate - and eventually, hopefully, MP - stands, what he'll do and what his priorities will be.That's why I today sent out to all members my selection manifesto. I hope it answers any outstanding questions members have and enables them to back me to make Putney Labour again.
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Short-listing
On Thursday Putney General Committee met to draw up the final short-list members will get to vote on at the hustings on 10th June. As I won 100% of branch nominations I was automatically short-listed, but was still given the opportunity to talk to the committee in a bit more detail about my general election campaign strategy, should I ultimately be selected. I focussed on the election campaign rather than my political priorities at Westminster because everything else matters very little if we can't make Putney Labour again. We can win. Many doubt it, some believe it - I know it. Please back me and let me prove it.
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Out and about in West Putney
Today, Sunday, instead of running the marathon ( a difficult choice to make!) I continued my own marathon of contacting as many Putney Labour members as possible before the hustings on 10th June. This time most of my time was spent in West Putney ward - the area roughly bordered by Upper Richmond Road, Roehampton Lane, Putney Heath and Putney Hill. And I was delighted to recruit my first new member to the Labour Party of the campaign while I was calling on her partner, an existing Labour member. It just goes to show that it really isn't that hard to get people to join Labour: all it needs is for us to actually ask them, personally. There are dozens - possibly hundreds - of people exactly like this throughout the constituency who are Labour through and through but who have just never thought - or never been asked - to join Labour. If I'm selected on 10th June one of the things I pledge to do is ask, ask and ask again until we have an even more vibrant, active and representative group of members in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields.
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Labour Party Deputy Leadership
Even before its merger with the Transport & General Workers' Union (T&G), Amicus was the largest union affiliated to the Labour Party. I am a long-standing member of the union and a member of its National Political Committee. As one of my duties for this body, I spent yesterday morning listening to and questioning all six candidates for the deputy leadership as they presented themselves in the hope of winning our official endorsement. All six of the candidates offer their own individual strengths to the new leadership team and it is clear that the race is wide open to succeed John Prescott. Indeed, at last night's Putney dinner all six candidates had members there who had decided to give them their support. Whoever gets the job we're going to have a formidable team leading us.
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Putney Labour Party Annual Dinner
Tonight I attended Putney Labour Party's Annual Dinner.
I've been a regular attendee at these dinners for some years now as they are always expertly organised and are a great way to catch up with old friends, as well as raise some vital money for local party coffers. This year the dinner was held at Ole restaurant in Upper Richmond Road. The meal was excellent and Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development delivered a great after-dinner speech. He reminded us how powerful politics is as a force for good in our society, both at home and abroad. Congratulations to Marcy Carpenter and Pauline Brueseke for the organisation and Peter Carpenter for his expert (if rather over) use of the gavel!
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Football
On Sundays I play football for a Roehampton-based side called Mulladween down at Roehampton Vale near the Asda superstore. Today was our last game of the season and we needed a win to ensure we were promoted as division runners up. At 2-0 up at half time everything looked rosy. However, a dodgy penalty decision and a lapse at the back saw our opponents pull it back to 2-2. However, a late surge forward brought an opportunity for us in the very last minute of the game. Our Captain chipped the keeper from the edge of the box and as the ball floated into their net we all knew we were going to win, and so we did. A great end to the season: promotion to Division Seven of the Morden and District Sunday League (ahem!) - and our second promotion in successive seasons.
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Southfields and West Hill nominations
The final two wards to nominate: Southfields and West Hill, met last night. I am pleased and grateful that both wards chose to nominate me: this means that I have won the backing of members in every single ward in the constituency: thank you so much.Your overwhelming backing - I understand that not a single member attending any of the nomination meetings voted against me - means I am automatically short-listed for the final hustings meeting on 10th June, because I got more than 40% of the nominations.You still have five days to request a postal vote if you can't attend - contact the Procedures Secretary Peter Carpenter or me if you require one.
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Roehampton and West Putney branch nominations
Roehampton and West Putney members met tonight to nominate their choices for the final shortlist: the second set of branches to make this important decision.I am pleased and grateful that both wards chose to nominate me: again, thank you so much for your support - it's really appreciated.The final two Putney wards: Southfields and West Hill, meet next week. If you're a member there, please turn out and, if you feel able, support me.
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