Forum Topic

Justine's resignation

Just listened to Justine's interview  whereby she justified her reasons for not standing as an MP for Putney again. Very clear, understandable and heartfelt.  I an a very great admirer of Justine and her community work.  I have found her to be both honest and caring. Did find her attitude re Brexit troubling as against my own views but obviously I couldn't vote Labour.  I wish her the very best in her chosen pathway decision

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2626d32 Comments

Agree wholeheartedly Barbara.

Sue Hammond ● 2626d

'The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity'A really, really sad day for British politics.

David Parker ● 2626d

How refreshing: an MP with the courage of her convictions. Johnson and his ilk should be shamed by her example.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2626d

Wholeheartedly agree with all these sentiments.  It's a black day for Putney, and for politics in this country.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2626d

it seems to me that JG is standing down because she knows she is highly likely to lose if the LibDems put up a good candidate, nothing wrong with that of course.

Adam Tripp ● 2626d

...and of course she may lose the Whip today

Adam Tripp ● 2626d

Yes Adam that's a given. Going before she's pushed. Understandable, if somewhat cowardly. Shame, I would have expected her to fight the election and fight for her seat. I will miss her being our MP.

Sue Hammond ● 2626d

Just listening to JG interview on BBC 24 hour TV news. I sense her resignation, although she didn't say that as such, is probably driven by a serious distrust of Johnson and his cabal of a cabinet. I suspect her terms like "close down debate" essentially means he's executing a power grab by the Tory right wing, white, male elite? On a positive noted, it does appear to give her more opportunity to carry out her social mobility ventures in a more cross party collaborative manner across the political spectrum. I think she's right that, whatever else happens, parliament will be distracted by post Brexit legislation and trade deals for several years to come, even if A50 is deferred or even cancelled. On another positive note it looks like another seat lost to Johnson in the next election.

Michael Ixer ● 2626d

Shall we have a bet on how long it will be before she joins the LibDems and stands for them in Putney?

Sue Hammond ● 2626d

I thought it was odd when they said they would not put a candidate up for Putney so had they been talking to Justine already I wonder?🤔

Sue Hammond ● 2626d

I think Greening is simply a spent force.  After her tenure in transport with £40m squandered on the West Coast rail link, DfID, and Education, not to mention the Elliott debacle, where those of us who campaigned to save the playing fields of a Grade II listed school, where she was a governor, saw at first hand a career politician with no interest in the social mobility issues she now wishes to pursue.https://youtu.be/HPNKGvPoV8UYoutube:  Save Elliott School, the story so farAt 2.58 Ms Greening demonstrates her contempt for her electorate when they do not agree with her.The playing fields have gone, and so has her career.

Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2626d

Her letter to the PM  (via FB)

Michael Ixer ● 2626d

There is no need for Putney to worry.  Labour has an excellent candidate in Fleur Anderson, a long term Wandsworth resident, a councillor in Bedford Ward and a manager at a local community centre.  Check out her website:  https://fleuranderson.co.uk/

Peter Tajasque ● 2626d

It's not Putney I'm worried about but the decimation of the UK economy under a McDonnell Marxist government.  The wholesale expropriation of land, inheritance, and his plans to attack the buy-to-let market would crash the housing market and the economy.I was talking to a group of financial advisors the other day, and asked them what they are advising on most - Brexit or a Corbyn govt.  All replied the latter.  Brexit is a piece of cake for most businesses, but a Labour government would be a catastrophe.

Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2626d

The Lib Dems have already selected a candidate. I recall their candidate in the previous 3 elections for Parliament, London Assembly and council writing a rather disappointed letter about not being given another run.Never mind, Fleur Anderson is a Wandsworth Councillor who knows Putney and the borough very well and would make an excellent successor to Justine.

Stephen Gibbons ● 2626d

Fleur Anderson is the Labour candidate I understand. In no way will I ever vote for Labour while Jeremy Corbyn remains leader if for no other reason that he supports Brexit and always has done.

Lucille Grant ● 2626d

I think that rather over-dramatises Labour policies but it is true that Corbyn is the Tories’ best electoral friend. If we have an election the chances are high that we’ll get another hung parliament.  Not sure that will solve anything. The only way to lance the Brexit boil is another referendum, not that I would look forward to it with any enthusiasm.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2626d

Sue Wixley for the Liberal Democrats?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2626d

Looks like the money market guys don't have much confidence in Boris and his government- and one would expect them to be Tories (the world has gone crazy?):"The pound has made gains on currency markets after Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his majority in the House of Commons.Tory MP Phillip Lee's defection to the Liberal Democrats lifted sterling to above $1.20 and €1.10."https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49562307

Michael Ixer ● 2626d

Me neither as if it's worded like the first one  we will be as divided as we were then. It should perhaps have the option of No Deal or Remain instead.

Lucille Grant ● 2626d

Is Fleur a member of/backed by Momentum?

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2626d

Apparently she beat the Momentum candidate I'm told. A good thing but even so I'm still not voting for Corbyn to get the keys to No 10.

Lucille Grant ● 2626d

"I'm still not voting for Corbyn to get the keys to No 10."So for whom will you vote?

David Ainsworth ● 2626d

Probably LibDem, David, even though I know Jo Swinson is not going to win big time but at least a LibDem MP for Putney wll mean we won't be represented by either of the two current charlatan parties. Cons are too far Right wing now and Labour  under Corbyn is too far Left for my taste. Just my opinion of course. I'm guessing you'll be going for Labour, though?Hopefully BoJo won't be winning his blackmail of a General Election any time soon though. Lets get No Deal off the table first.

Lucille Grant ● 2626d

Perhaps the Lib Dems and Labour will need to form an alliance. If so, they may agree to drop out of constituencies where their ally has a better chance of beating the Tories. I wonder if the Lib Dems might do that, in favour of Labour, in Putney.

David Ainsworth ● 2625d

...not a chance with Corbyn in charge, David.  Now, replace him with Starmer or Watson (or even Thornberry?) and it could be game on

Craig Fordham ● 2625d

David, hopefully the LibDems learnt their lesson when they were the minority party with the Conservatives. They have spent years trying to rebuild themselves since that disaster.

Lucille Grant ● 2625d

So, unless the Labour Party removes Corbyn as leader, you would prefer some form of Brexit? And blimey, really Tom Watson?!

David Ainsworth ● 2625d

'So, unless the Labour Party removes Corbyn as leader, you would prefer some form of Brexit?'Craig didn't say that! 

Lucille Grant ● 2625d

"'So, unless the Labour Party removes Corbyn as leader, you would prefer some form of Brexit?'Craig didn't say that!"OK, how do you interpret it?

David Ainsworth ● 2625d

I don't interpret David - Craig was clear enough - a change of leader of HM Opposition is  needed  before Labour can possibly win  a General Election outright. The current incumbent is too Left Wing thanks to Momentum for many peoples' tastes (including  Labour voters)

Lucille Grant ● 2625d

"a change of leader of HM Opposition is  needed  before Labour can possibly win  a General Election outright." That is why some form of alliance is necessary. The campaign of most of the media against the Labour Party won't disappear with Corbyn. It didn't start with him.

David Ainsworth ● 2625d