Putney CLP had a successful 2022. Through strong campaigning, tireless door-knocking and the delivery of materials evidencing Labour’s commitment to achieving greater social justice, the local elections in May secured no less than nine Labour Councillors for Putney.  This made a significant contribution to the election of the first Labour-led Wandsworth Council in over 40 years and the selection of West Putney Councillor Jeremy Ambache as Mayor. As a long-term Labour Councillor, Jeremy is using his tenure as Wandsworth’s Mayor to highlight the excellent grassroots work of many community-led organisations, organisations which seek to actively address social issues that commonly impact disproportionately on less well-off and diverse communities.

We continued in 2022 to build on this success, key highlights including:

• Successfully submitting a motion concerned with Energy and the Cost of Living to Labour’s national conference in September.  The conference was dynamic and energising; if you would like a copy of the report Putney’s four delegates prepared, please contact the secretary@putneylabour.org.uk
• The ‘SME4 Labour’ Award for CLP of the Year in October, recognising the sustained work and commitment that saw Fleur Anderson elected as Labour MP for Putney in 2019, the significant contribution to the election of a Labour-led Wandsworth Council and new members joining Putney CLP
• The ’Dinner with Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party’ in November.  This was a highly successful event – Angela gave a characteristically impressive talk after a delicious meal provided by Putney Pantry in St Mary’s Church, where the Putney Debates of 1647.  The dinner saw the re-engagement of members who hadn’t been active since before the pandemic, welcomed Members previously unknown to the CLP’s organisers, as well as thanking current activists for their work and raising around £2,250

As we look to 2023, we plan to continue this success, building a stronger Constituency with three key aims:

• listening and responding to the views and needs of local people
• holding the Council to its promises and supporting them in delivering them
• building in strength in order to win 
  • the next Mayoral and London Assembly elections in Spring 24, returning Sadiq Khan as London’s Mayor and Leonie Cooper as the Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth
  • the next General Election – whenever that may be – returning Fleur as our local MP and bringing Labour back into power in Westminster

We’re ambitious and we’re determined!

We’re always keen to welcome new members and to support members who wish to become more active.  Look out for branch meetings, which discuss the issues of most relevance for your local area, branch socials, aimed to support like-minded neighbours meet and get to know each other, as well as Putney wide meetings and socials – our General Committee meets on the 4^th Thursday of each month.

All contributions of your time are welcome – intermittent or regular, back office or door knocking, 1 hour per month or three hours each week.  Many of us work full time and/or have caring responsibilities.  We know what it is to be pushed for time and won’t expect more than you are happy to give – support itself is what keeps things going.  If you are interested in seeing how you can help build a ‘fairer, greener’ Putney, please get in touch!

Anna Waterman, Chair of Putney CLP – chair@putneylabour.org.uk