PUTNEY CONSERVATIVE MP REFUSES TO DEFEND THE MUSEUM

“If this is indeed an enormously unpopular proposal then we will not be re-elected next time round.” Cllr Malcolm Grimston

Councillor Malcolm Grimston is the Wandsworth Councillor in charge of Environment and Leisure. He was the driving force behind the push to close the Wandsworth Museum. “Mr Grimston’s arrogant remarks and disdainful attitude to local democracy might come back to haunt him at the next local elections”, said Tony Burrett of the Southfields Lib Dem team.

SOUTHFIELDS TORIES BACKED HIM ALL THE WAY

Two of the current Southfields Tory councillors are members of the Committee that could have brought an immediate halt to the closure when it was first debated.

But they chose as usual to back their party bosses rather than listen to local opinion. “Conservative councillors always put the concerns of their party bosses ahead of the people they are supposed to represent. This is an insult to Southfields residents”, said Anna Ahmed.

Lucy Allen is one of the Southfields councillors who chose not to defend the museum. On her on-line blog she dismissed the museum as something that doesn’t matter to local people. “If Ms Allen lived in Southfields she would know that residents here care very deeply about our local services and amenities. Above everything else, this Tory councillor wants to be an MP, and she has put her political ambitions ahead of defending the interests of Southfields residents”, said Adam Towner.

Putney Conservative MP refuses to defend the Museum

MPs from all major parties signed a Parliamentary motion urging Wandsworth Council to allow more time to consider alternatives to closing the museum. Not one Conservative signed the motion, including Putney MP Justine Greening.

“Clearly, like her Wandsworth Tory colleagues, Justine Greening is more interested in toeing the party line than in defending the interests of local people”, said Southfields Liberal Democrat Tony Burrett.