What Do The Putney Candidates Really Think?


Your opportunity to compare and contrast their views on local issues


Four candidates are in the ring for the MP’s seat for Putney.


- Will Sweet (Conservative)
- Fleur Anderson (Labour)
- Sue Wixley (Liberal Democrats)
- Fergal McEntee (Green Party)

PutneySW15.com have asked them to answer nine pertinent questions regarding local issues giving readers an opportunity to compare and contrast the candidates before putting their X in the box on 12 December.

Still want to hear more? The Putney Society has arranged a general election hustings event to take place on 3 December. It is being held in the Community Church on Werter Road opposite Sainsbury's and begins at 7.30pm. All are welcome. All parliamentary candidates for the Putney constituency will be invited to join.

1. If there is a second referendum would you vote to remain or exit the EU? And how do you envisage this stance would sit with your constituents?
Conservative
Will Sweet

I voted Remain so I understand how many Putney residents feel. Residents (whether they voted Remain or Leave) are telling me that the country needs to move on and I agree with them. Further delay and confusion for another referendum will threaten local livelihoods and worsen divides in our communities.
I'd pass the Prime Minister's deal so that we can focus on major issues that matter locally, like the environment, crime, transport, high streets, the NHS, schools and homes. I'd use my experience working for the Foreign Office to bring sensible views to Parliament, protecting local livelihoods and the security of us and our European allies

Labour
Fleur Anderson

I'd vote Remain in all circumstances.
Putney voted 74% Remain and so this stance will sit well with the majority of constituents. Revoking Article 50 is anti-democratic, MPs can't agree and so we need a second referendum to settle this. Remaining in the EU is in the best interests of all residents, and particularly our children and grandchildren. The trade deal we have with the world's biggest trade block is excellent and crucial to British jobs, British business success, and British public services. But more importantly Britain needs to continue to take a leading role in the EU so we protect democracy, strengthen our mutual security and shape what happens on our continent for decades to come.

Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
I will vote to remain in the EU. If elected, I will stand up for Putney against Brexit.
Local people tell me they want an MP who will fight for them when it counts. Like me, they believe that any type of Brexit – a Boris Johnson Conservative Brexit or a Jeremy Corbyn Labour Brexit - will be damaging for jobs, our NHS, public services and our community. They appreciate the Lib Dems’ clear Stop Brexit position, in contrast with the Conservatives and Labour who are not representing the wishes of local voters.
With our former MP Justine Greening stepping down and unable to support the Conservatives in this election, more and more people locally are backing me to beat the Conservatives this time around. The Liberal Democrats are backed by Best for Britain as the tactical choice in Putney to stop this Brexit mess and beat the Conservatives.
Green Party
Fergal McEntee
As an Irishman, a European and a resident in the UK, I would vote to remain, as we are stronger together in Europe and more equipped when it comes to dealing with the climate emergency. The EU is not perfect and I would push for reform. Very high proportion of the constituents voted to remain this with agree with their stance.
2. As the new MP what measures would you propose to reduce pollution in Putney High Street?
Conservative
Will Sweet

I want to save the environment starting here in Putney, Southfields and Roehampton.
The Mayor of London has a lot to answer for on Putney High Street. It is his polluting buses and his failure to address the impact of the Hammersmith Bridge closure that is causing problems. I have a track record successfully negotiating with Transport for London on local roads, so as our MP I would be straight in to see the Mayor to get electric buses on to the High Street.
I'm also a fan of Positively Putney's proposals to do deliveries such as rubbish collection by bike. I successfully got money from the Future High Streets Fund for Putney, so as our MP I would get this spent on more greenery to soak up pollution and public squares to offer some respite. I've met local landlords to discuss options and am ready to deliver.

Labour
Fleur Anderson

Air pollution is damaging the health of everyone in Putney. We need effective action to improve air pollution across London as these will have most impact – as well as specifically on Putney High Street. We must have better measurement of air quality and I'd set up a public policy commission with residents, green NGO's and local businesses to develop policies to improve Putney's air and improve Putney High Street. I'd argue for measures that limit the most polluting traffic, and adds us to the Mayor of London's Healthy Streets Programme.
I will continue to work with the Mayor who launched the low emission zone on the High Street which has resulted in a considerable decrease - but we must do more.
Last year the council received £780,000 from vehicle fines in the yellow box at Lacy Road, and yet is not spending enough on air quality action and High Street improvements. Instead, there has been some very minimal change to the pavements, which is a waste of money.
Air quality action must not stop at the High Street and I would also work with the council and government to introduce more clean air zones around schools, school streets and action on West Hill and other roads with high levels of pollution.

Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
I live locally in Putney and share the concerns of so many residents about the toxic fumes we breathe every day on Putney High Street and other local streets. I have proposals to tackle car idling and I want to bring forward the date to end new sales of petrol and diesel cars. I want warning signs to be displayed in pollution hotspots like Putney High Streets and will bring in better, wider monitoring of air pollution on Putney High Street and outside schools.
As your local MP, I would also work with the community and Wandsworth Council to make our area friendlier for cyclists and pedestrians and work with City Hall to keep improving public transport and make it greener. In Parliament, I will campaign with other Liberal Democrat MPs to bring in a Clean Air Act that enshrines the right to unpolluted air wherever you live or work.
Green Party
Fergal McEntee
Air pollution is a national health emergency. Putney High Street remains a very congested road with all constantly stop-start. I would trial a peak time traffic management scheme where all vehicles switch off their engines and then have a period of traffic management of a clear run up to the A3. An engine restart is equivalent to less than 10 seconds of idling. Increase, enforce anti-idling fines and change the anti-idling laws that if the same car idles within a week can be fined.
Set up school streets where it is safe to walk, scoot and cycle to schools.
Change the layout of the high street to allow for buses to pull in further up so not to obstruct the traffic.
Introduce more plants on the high street and surrounding streets. Encourage living walls by reduced business rates.
The wider strategy is to drastically reduce the number of hydrocarbon vehicles on the streets of Wandsworth through taxes starting on the larger polluters. Make better dedicated cycle paths with physical barriers making the streets safer for cyclists, greatly improving public transport.
3. What are your views on the construction of a third runway at Heathrow?
Conservative
Will Sweet
I've been part of the legal campaign against Heathrow expansion since 2014 and I have no intention of changing my mind now. In the summer, as a Cabinet Member at Wandsworth Council, I signed off funding for another legal challenge.
As our MP, I would work with other constituencies affected to petition the government to stop the plans and reduce air and noise pollution. It was marginal between Heathrow and Gatwick and the environmental rules have now tightened, so we must review the decision.
Labour
Fleur Anderson
I have actively campaigned against Heathrow expansion and was recently at the High Court at the start of the new appeal by Wandsworth Council and many other councils and organization – and a verdict is expected in December. Boris Johnson said he would lie down in front of the bulldozers but has now changed his mind.
Heathrow expansion is the wrong thing to do on a number of fronts: it's a waste of £18billion of taxpayers' money, as according to the Treasury's own figures, it will not add significantly to our economic prospects. Worse, it will cause huge environmental damage, 9 million of tonnes of carbon emissions, including car parking for over 50,000 cars and the noise nuisance it will cause to Putney's residents isn't a price any of us should ever be prepared to pay.
Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
I am opposed to the third runway on environmental grounds and because additional flights will disturb the peace and well-being of residents across the constituency. I have campaigned against expansion for a while now and I will continue to stand up for local residents on this issue if I am elected.
Green Party
Fergal McEntee
The UK has declared a climate emergency and continuous airport expansion is going against climate science. Am totally opposed to the third runway and totally opposed to all airport expansion thought the UK. We need to introduce frequent flyer tax to discourage frequent flyers who are polluting our air and destroying our planet.
4. How would you tackle knife crime at a local level?
Do school exclusion rates have a bearing on the problem in your opinion?
Conservative
Will Sweet
I've found it devastating to receive regular phone calls notifying me of stabbings, as the Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services at Wandsworth Council. Knife crime destroys lives. We need to be tough on it and we need to be compassionate about its causes. That's why I support our Conservative pledge for 6,000 more police for London so that we have a more visible police presence here. It's why I've increased the number of frontline staff working with vulnerable families, to stop people getting into gangs and give everyone the best chance of making a success of their lives. That's also why I've increased education funding in Putney by 4 per cent next year, continuing our record of real terms increases for local schools.
Exclusion rates do have an impact, yes. When children are at school, they are out of trouble and getting the opportunities that they deserve. One of my proudest achievements as Cabinet Member is that our schools have one of the lowest exclusion rates in the country (0.06 per cent, compared to 0.9 per cent for Inner London and 0.1 per cent for England). As our MP, I would get even more government support for the most vulnerable children to improve their access to opportunities.
Labour
Fleur Anderson
Young people are needlessly dying on our streets. We need to be much more effective in combatting knife crime and its causes. I run youth services in a local community centre and so I'm already working on tackling the problem every day, by working directly with young people and families from an early age.
There is a link between school exclusions and young people getting involved in violent crime. Wandsworth schools are working together to reduce this, but often ‘managed moves' instead of exclusions mask the real numbers of children who are being let down. For too many schools exclusion (or managed moves) is an easier option because they're under huge pressure to get exam results and do well in OFSTED inspections. We need to change the system and improve our schools.
But there are more issues as well – cuts in special education needs support, youth services, and over-crowded homes are also part of the problem.
We need many more police on the streets - both regular police and specialists who focus on gangs and knife crime.
People have said for centuries that investing time and resources into children really makes the crucial difference and that's right. I'll support the Labour government pledges to invest more in schools, and especially in support for children with Special Educational Needs, to bring back the Sure Start programme which was cut by the Conservative-LibDem Government, and deliver more skilled social workers and family support experts to change the life trajectory of children being at risk of being involved in knife crime.
Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
The rise in knife crime in our borough is deeply upsetting and many local parents have told me how worried they are about the safety of their children. We need a caring, community-focused and preventative approach.
The Liberal Democrats would invest in additional community police officers. We would also boost investment in youth services, spending an additional £5.9m across Wandsworth.
School exclusions can worsen problems such as knife crime, which is why it is extremely important that schools are supported in dealing with challenging children, and there is a coordinated approach across different agencies.
Green Party
Fergal McEntee
I will push for a public health approach to tackling knife crime. Increase the funding for youth development and local policing. Also I would invest in youth services and centres, to help turn at-risk children away from crime.
5. What are your views on A&E waiting times at St George's hospital?
Conservative
Will Sweet
I was patched up by the amazing A&E team after an accident recently and have nothing but admiration for them. A&E teams need support and as our MP I would work to bring waiting times down. The best way to do this is to have more doctors and nurses.
Under the Conservatives, our local NHS trust (St George's, which runs Queen Mary's Roehampton) has 343 more doctors and 572 more nurses than in 2010. We are due to get two new MRI scanners locally to help catch diseases early. I fully support the government plan to invest £33.9 billion in the NHS and recruit 6,000 more GPs and will make sure Putney, Southfields and Roehampton get our fair share, including for A&E.
Labour
Fleur Anderson

All A&E waiting times are too high and other local hospitals' A&E waiting times have a knock-on effect. NHS figures show one in six patients waiting longer than four hours in A&E last month – the worst on record. Its not just A&E waiting times – it is other treatments and GPs as well. Latest figures show that in the UK 4.4m patients are waiting longer than the 18 week limit for treatment and NHS staff are working a staggering one millions hours of unpaid overtime each week, to help the NHS cope with its chronic under-staffing.
Labour has pledged a £26bn real terms increase in NHS funding, in a package which includes the recruitment of 24,000 extra nurses and expanding GP training places to 5000, to create 27 million more appointments with family doctors and reverse the cuts to children's mental health services.
We need to invest more into our NHS but also protect it from being sold off to American insurance firms as part of Boris Johnson's trade deal with Donald Trump.

Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
The latest figures show that around 20% of people attending A&E have to wait more than four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged. This is a long way off the 95% waiting list targets and the result of years of neglect of the NHS by the Conservatives.
I support the Liberal Democrat plan for an extra penny in the pound on income tax to raise an extra £35bn for our NHS per year. If we stop Brexit we will address the falling numbers of EU workers who contribute to our health service.

Green Party
Fergal McEntee
Emergency Departments up and down the country are under more pressure as demands are increasing and St George’s Hospital is no exception. St. George’s and the NHS is suffering from lack of investment across the country.
We need more investment and the green party pledge is to increase funding for the NHS by at least £6 billion per year each year, until 2030 (a 4.5% increase on the 2018/2019 NHS Budget), and a further £1 billion a year in nursing higher education, allowing for nursing bursaries to be reinstated.
6. Do you think the borough needs more police patrolling the streets?
Conservative
Will Sweet
Yes, absolutely. To give just one example, the recent robberies on schoolchildren in Southfields has been shocking. I met parents to hear their concerns. We need the police to be more visible. That's why I wrote to the police commander to request urgent action, which she has now taken. The best way to have a more visible police presence is to vote for me so that we can deliver our Conservative promise of 6,000 more police for London.
I know from my work on counter-terrorism how hard our police work and it's vital that we give them the resources they need. Only the Conservatives can be trusted to do this.
Labour
Fleur Anderson

Absolutely. Yes.
Police numbers started being cut ten years ago by the Conservative-LibDem Government and that's continued to this day. People deserve to be safe.
We need many more police on the streets and that's what Labour will do.

Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
Yes. Policing works best when it is visible and when strong relationships are built between the police and the local communities. The Liberal Democrats will invest in additional community officers and would also increase investment in youth services.
Green Party
Fergal McEntee
Absolutely we need more visible police on the streets and quicker reaction time to minor crimes. So I will focus on the prevention of crime with community-based policing, alongside investment in education and employment.
7. What is you stance on affordable and social housing in the borough and the reported shortfall in meeting the needs of first time buyers and residents in need of adequate accommodation?
Conservative
Will Sweet

I know what it's like to rent and struggle to get on the housing ladder, so I've always worked to deliver more homes for local residents. When I was Planning Chairman we had the highest number of new homes in London, and our record on affordable homes was one of the best. I'm really proud that we won architectural awards too, because it's vital that new buildings fit in and work for existing residents.
Housing is a London-wide problem and it needs a London-wide solution. The Mayor of London has not helped matters by delaying schemes and making it much harder for developers to build the affordable homes local residents need. As our MP, I would be working to make sure that Putney, Southfields and Roehampton residents can move on and up the housing ladder. That means getting the Mayor of London moving and helping the government put pressure on developers to build better homes.

Labour
Fleur Anderson

The housing crisis affects almost every family in Putney: children growing up in overcrowded unsuitable conditions, young people starting out but unable to get on the property ladder, and increased levels of homelessness. The average house price in Southfields is £660,000. Young people now graduate with huge student debt, and are reliant on the ‘bank of Mum and Dad' (if they are lucky) to have a hope of owning their own home. We need homes that are affordable for first time buyers – not more luxury investment flats.
We also need more council houses. The Alton Estate Regeneration which will cost the council £108 million, take 10 years of building but will only result in an additional 30 social and affordable homes (224 homes) with the vast majority being private homes (847 homes). I have listened to local resident's concern and led a campaign for a better deal from the regeneration, which has resulted in Sadiq Khan asking the council to think again. I will keep campaigning with Roehampton residents for at least 100 additional council homes in the regeneration.
Meanwhile, when he was Mayor of London, Boris Johnson built more homes for overseas investors than genuinely affordable homes for Londoners. We need a housing programme that puts people first.

Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
I’m really concerned about the lack of genuinely affordable homes in our area and the lack of social housing. The development plans for the Alton Estate in particular is sorely missing a plan for adequate social housing and genuinely affordable housing. For too long, successive Conservative and Labour Governments have not built enough homes. To address this, we have to speed up house building and stop prices from getting further out of reach of families. I wholeheartedly support the Liberal Democrats plans to build 300,000 new homes a year, not only to meet existing need but also to tackle the historic undersupply.
The Liberal Democrats also want to give local authorities more powers to acquire land and to borrow in order to build genuinely affordable housing with one-third of new housing dedicated to social housing for rent.
We would also require local authorities, and support them in doing this, to provide 28 days of emergency accommodation for anyone becoming homeless with no safe place to stay.
Green Party
Fergal McEntee
Everyone should have a safe, affordable and warm place to call home both social housing and first time buyers. First of all I would stop the Right-to-buy scheme. Bring in necessary changes to allow councils to borrow more easily, make sure property developers are actually providing the correct % of affordable housing for first time buyers and change the laws the allow for developers to get out of this through loopholes.
8. How would you tackle the issue of overcrowding on local trains?
Conservative
Will Sweet

The rush hour misery of boarding trains here is ignored by South Western Rail and Transport for London in transport assessments. I have a track record of successful negotiations with Transport for London and I'd put this to good use to get them to sort this out. That means more trains stopping at Putney plus improved alternative options, including a more reliable and regular District Line for Southfields and East Putney and new transport for Roehampton.
Overcrowding is made worse by the single entrance to Putney Station. It means fewer people use the interchange with East Putney, which makes trains busier and stops people using the length of the platforms. I've successfully got initial funding for a second entrance from Oxford Road. Last week I took the Chancellor of the Exchequer on to the platform to discuss how we can get Network Rail and South Western Rail pulling together on this, with government support.
If you elect me, I'm ready to deliver this.

Labour
Fleur Anderson

More trains, more frequency of trains and more carriages. London's population is increasing so we need to invest in better, greener transport and better transport infrastructure. On the District line, new signalling is going in across the whole line leading to increased capacity and reliability and I will monitor these closely to ensure they are delivered.
The unreliability and frequent cancellation of South Western Trains shows the failure of the train franchise system - commuter lines should come under control of the Mayor and TfL as soon as possible and end commuter misery. I will work with the Mayor's office to achieve this. Anything less is just a sticking plaster on a broken system.
I also think making cycling safer and new greener technologies such as electric bicycles and scooters will increase the offer for more people to use other transport and that's another important means of cutting congestion.
On another train issues, I will campaign for the second entrance to Putney Station.

Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
This is a big challenge both for commuters like me who rely on the District Line and for many others who use the mainline trains from Putney Station. I would work with City Hall and Transport for London to keep increasing the number of trains serving our area and improving performance. I would also look to improve bus services, especially for residents in Roehampton who are feeling the knock on effects of the closure to vehicles of Hammersmith Bridge.
More generally, we need to rethink how we get around and how we reduce car use and I want to organise a public consultation with local residents on how best we can make cycling and walking easier and more attractive.
Lastly, I am concerned about the planned strike in December that will hit all commuters using South Western Railway. Along with other Liberal Democrat candidates in neighbouring areas, I have written to SWR and the RMT union to urge both parties to get back to the negotiating table.

Green Party
Fergal McEntee
First of all we need to stop the constant delays on the district line and invest the necessary funding into improve signalling on this line. This will enable TfL to run more trains on the track and with fewer delays. Make the streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
9. How would you help residents adjust to the proposed splitting of the borough in two when the ULEZ extension comes into place?
Conservative
Will Sweet
I back low emissions but the Mayor of London's ULEZ expansion is badly thought through. ULEZ will force the most polluting traffic to rat run along the edge of the zone, meaning worse pollution for southern Putney, Southfields and Roehampton. This will be doubly bad because of Transport for London's failure to take action to address the impact of the Hammersmith Bridge closure, which brings 5,000 more cars a day through Putney.
I'll work to get Transport for London to put in place a total local roads solution to make sure polluting traffic cannot rat run and is routed away from our streets. It's not fair for Putney to bear the brunt of ULEZ. I sympathise with residents who bought cars before ULEZ so I will work to give them advice and explore compensation. My track record on air pollution is second to none. I've signed plans to make Putney carbon neutral by 2030 and am delivering 800+ electric vehicle charging points and improved cycle routes.
Labour
Fleur Anderson

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a necessary action to address the public health emergency caused by pollution. I went to the recent Putney Society meeting at which we were shocked to hear the impact of pollution on children's lungs – permanently reducing each lung by the size of an egg by the time they are eight years old. We have seen what happens when the Mayor rid the High St of the most polluting buses.
The ULEZ won't split the borough in two because it is not a blanket charge for everyone and most cars won't be affected. By the time of the launch in October 2021, four out of five vehicles going in and out of the expanded zone won't pay a penny as they will be ULEZ compliant vehicles. Also there is a scrappage scheme for low income Londoners and businesses. Transport for London has signalled the changes really early so that people can adjust and change their diesel for a petrol car, join a car club or get rid of their car. The clean air benefits will come to the whole of Putney and won't just stop at the limit of the zone.
Find out if your vehicle is affected here: tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/cars?intcmp=52215

Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
To start with I will make sure that the London Mayor has an effective and proactive communications' plan in place to ensure that everyone knows what is coming in October 2021. Two years should give residents enough time to plan ahead and to look at alternatives to driving or using a different car. I would want to explore what measures could be considered to support people on lower incomes, such as a reduced charge for a longer transition period.
Green Party
Fergal McEntee
In the first place, all residences need to be fully aware of the changes now so they can plan for the future. The ULEZ should not stop at the North South circular but be extended to the M25 as quick as possible.
9. What are you main aims and ambitions if you are elected as the local MP?
Conservative
Will Sweet

Growing up in this special area, I never imagined I’d have the honour of standing to be your MP. Wandsworth is where I went to school, got my first job and met my partner.
I’ve found it inspiring listening to ordinary Putney parents that are aspirational for their families, just like my parents were for my brother and me here over 35 years ago. I want our area to be the best place to raise a family and I’ll make sure residents’ children will be able to afford to buy a home here.
I’m passionate about tackling the climate emergency, starting by making our area carbon neutral by 2030. I’ve been part of the legal fight against Heathrow expansion since 2014 and have no intention of giving up.
Our communities need more reliable, accessible transport and more vibrant high streets. I’ll use my negotiating experience with Transport for London and I have plans to improve Putney High Street, Southfields village and Danebury Avenue.
Knife crime destroys lives. I’ve spoken with the Chief Superintendent about muggings targeted at schoolchildren. I’ll get our share of 20,000 more police and stop people getting into gangs.
I was brought up to act with integrity and think of others. I’d like to champion our area to give everyone the best chance of making a success of their lives. I’ll get things done and stand up for you. I have a strong track record delivering for Putney, Southfields and Roehampton as a Cabinet Member at Wandsworth Council and I’d like to continue it in Parliament.


Labour
Fleur Anderson
My aim is to be a hard-working, campaigning local MP and to bring in the changes we need to make our community better for everyone. I will be a strong voice for you in Westminster. I have a track record of speaking up for people. I’ll bring my international and local experience to stand up for residents.
If elected, in my first week I will start as I mean to go on and take action on
• Stopping Brexit and supporting a People’s Vote
• Putney High Street – inviting technical assessments and expert options on both air quality and opening the empty shops
• Housing -- I will continue to challenge the Alton estate developers and demand a better deal
• Start a Putney Climate Commission and work with local residents, community groups and businesses to take urgent action across the constituency
• Community services audit, bringing together local groups to work together, and tackle youth exclusion, support for parents and loneliness of older people
• Give young people opportunities, starting with internships for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the MPs office

Lib Dem
Sue Wixley
I have lived in Putney for the last decade and it is a wonderful place to live. But we need to fight to preserve what makes Putney special.
That’s why, as someone who has spent my life campaigning for people whose voices have too often been ignored - whether they be the victims of landmines abroad or people with care needs here in London - I am standing to represent you in Parliament.
As your MP I will stand up for this Remain-voting constituency. My first mission will be to stop Brexit and then invest our £50bn Remain bonus on boosting public services in Putney. As the strongest and largest party of Remain, only the Liberal Democrats can best represent the interests of the majority of voters in Putney, Southfields and Roehampton.
I have a four-point plan for Putney:
• Fight for more investment in our local schools: recruiting more teachers, reversing funding cuts and reducing class sizes;
• Invest in our NHS: putting mental health services on an equal footing with physical services and looking after the doctors and nurses who care for us;
• Grow a greener Putney: campaigning against Heathrow expansion and tackling toxic air pollution, making life easier for cyclists and pedestrians;
• Protect our community against crime – break-ins, anti-social behaviour and muggings by increasing community policing we have in our neighbourhoods and funding youth services.

Green Party
Fergal McEntee

In a sentence - Stop Heathrow expansion, cleaner breathable air, safer streets, inclusive and just society for all Putney residences and make sure we have a workable free health care system that looks after both patients and staff. 


November 21, 2019