Conservatives Send In Big Guns to Putney
Chancellor and Secretary of State for Health visit constituency
The Chancellor of the Exchequer & Will Sweet on Putney High Street
Last week, Putney and Will Sweet, the Conservative parliamentary candidate, was visited by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to Putney.
The visit of two leading figures in the party is a clear indication that they view the constituency as a key battleground seat.
Will Sweet told this website that he: "Used the meetings to make sure Putney, Southfields and Roehampton are top of the government’s agenda when it comes to Transport, Health, High Streets and the Economy".
On Monday 11 November the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, visited Putney to discuss the newly announced government spending and the impact it will have on the local NHS services. The Conservatives have pledged to increase NHS funding by £33.9 billion and the number of GPs by 6000 across the country.
Matt Hancock also talked about the improvements made over the last 10 years in local hospitals such as St George’s and Queen Mary’s Roehampton. Since 2010, the number of hospital doctors across local hospitals in this area has increased by 343 and the number of nurses by 572. Last month it was announced that local hospitals would benefit from two new MRI scanners and that the Secretary of State would help staff identify cancer at an early stage.
These moves were welcomed by Will Sweet who sees the NHS as a clear priority in the area. He said: "The NHS is very close to my heart and I believe in protecting it and giving it the investment it needs to benefit local people in Putney, Southfields and Roehampton." Matt Hancock said that he believes Will Sweet can be ‘a brilliant champion’ in Parliament to maintain investment in the NHS.
The Conservative's stewardship of the NHS has been criticised by opposition parties who point to increasingly long waiting lists and claim increased spending has not been sufficient to match rising demand.
On Wednesday 13 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid joined Mr Sweet at Putney Station and then on Putney High Street and at local cafe Artisan on Upper Richmond Road. This visit was to support Mr Sweet's recent work as a Councillor to secure funding for local infrastructure, including initial funding for a second entrance to Putney Station.
Mr Javid praised the candidate's ‘fantastic’ infrastructure ideas. He commented that he believes Mr Sweet can champion this in parliament, as he looks to deliver improved conditions for commuters and make it easier to change from East Putney Tube to the mainline rail station.
Part of the Conservative government plan is to invest in local high streets with a £1 billion Future High Street fund. Putney High Street is on the list to benefit from this scheme. Mr Javid said: "Putney, Southfields and Roehampton deserve high streets that are vibrant and at the heart of the community. The Future High Streets Fund is there to help. Will has a great plan to make Putney High Street, Southfields village and Roehampton thrive. The only way to move this area and its town centres forward is by voting for Will Sweet to be your Conservative MP."
Four candidates are contesting the Putney seat.
- Will Sweet (Conservative)
- Fleur Anderson (Labour)
- Sue Wixley (Liberal Democrats)
- Fergal McEntee (Green Party)
November 22, 2019