In many ways, an area of London of Wandsworth is a paradigm of modern capital. On the one hand, it place where a teenager recently fainted hunger in food bank queue. And on the other is home to “sky pool”, spectacular transparent swimming pool suspended 10 stories above the ground in Nine elms and reserved exclusively for in development the richest residents.
District also famous for its comparatively low council tax – which, its conservativelyrun the municipality boasts, this is the lowest average council tax in the country. Wandsworth also claims to be the sole local authority in London that is cutting This share of council tax bills.
“You’re looking at housing down so you wonder: ‘How much does it cost for normal people? It looks like investment housing more than anything else,” said Yahan Lewis, 53, sitting on the park bench in front of the Southside mall after visiting the employment center. “I always think it’s money district It’s all about money. They keep rates low and people vote for them.”
Perhaps that is why after more than four decades in charge of Wandsworth City Council, the Tories proved steadfast. Despite all three of its parliamentary constituencies are held by Labor – the Tories ceded to Battersea by Labor in 2017 and Putney two years later – and the vote of residents for Labor mayor Sadiq Khan, council remained firm in arms of tory.
But in the midst of anger over Partygate and how cost of living bites of the crisis, it’s leading Tory advice – one of A handful in London is still under Conservative control. on knife edge. And on May 5 may turn red for in first time since 1978 – potentially means disaster for tory and make it key goal for Work.
Robert Hayward, a fellow Conservative and sociologist, said that Wandsworth home too much of kinds of traditional Conservative voters who were now turning against Boris Johnson, namely,remain women aged 40 to 55 years.
He also said the conservatives were trying to make campaign in capital on their historic commitment to preserving the council tax down – and the khan is to blame for increases. He says in race remains close and unpredictable one.
“It’s a Partygate compared to a low council tax,” he said. “This is essentially what battle is an. There were so many chambers that were separated or incredibly close last time. Work party in fact won more votes than tory [but gained them in the wrong places]. If the conservatives just lose Wandsworth and they do well in other parts of country, there will be disappointment, but nothing more than this.”
However, he went on: “If this is the top of the bigger picture, she becomes emotionally very different.”
latest survey conducted in London suggests that Labor is doing slightly better than in 2018 last same election time took placebut not by a wide margin. party well did it year, in commemoration of Disastrous 2017 for Theresa May general elections campaign. Opinion poll for Sky News gave Labor 20 points lead. Back in 2018, Labor received 15 points lead.
One senior Tori, a veteran of London politics says changing demographics of Wandsworth will make it harder for conservatives. There was also increasing fatigue over Partygate, he said, adding that more fines for in prime minister may change as Election Day approaches.
Maybe that’s why Tori in seven London boroughs, including Wandsworth, will be listed as “local conservatives”. on ballot, not “Conservative” party candidate, apparently in attempt distance yourself from any toxicosis of in national brand.
But conservatives can struggle to pull in people they used to think on. On the new pedestrian Old York Road in Centre of area where cyclists whistle past people dining room outside delicacies, cafes and restaurants among strategically placed plants, 30-year-old Liam Garrett said he didn’t know local elections coming up up.
Marketing business The owner said that he was fed up with all conversations of The partygate that was “over top.” He added: “This is just need to finish as soon as possible possible. Is far away more vital questions.”
Though he thinks Wandsworth’s advice does good work, especially on council tax expenses, it is usually not vote in local elections.
Daisy Talbot, 20-year- old Durham University student in home for easter holidays previously voted conservative but this time says she wouldn’t feel good about voting for them. “There’s definitely a shift,” she said, adding that like her, a lot of her friends in in area no longer vote Conservative. “Now, given the lockdown, especially and us As students we feel like our age group didn’t get much attention.”
During the period when Johnson attended parties in blocking, some of her friends were expelled from university for mixing. “I would feel guilty if I complained and voted all the time for them.” On the contrary, she thought that Keir Starmer good work: “He becomes a figure that I really more aware of”.
Life is hard for many residents of Wandsworth: how people with mortgage loans start to join queues for food banks, there are many more on people minds than parties.
Charlotte White, 48 manager of Earlsfield food bank said lodging was huge issue in in area and people we struggling with more and more complex problems as result of in cost-of- life crisis.
“Is not just our numbers that go up but complexity of problems. people go in with complicated questions and support it just doesn’t exist,” she said. “I think people wishing to find the best solutions for those problems may have effect on how They vote”.
