After Michael Portillo in Enfield Southgate, Putney was one of the most publicised and televised results of 1997 election night. This was one of the key embarrassments for the Conservatives: the colourful, pro European David Mellor faced a challenge from the founder and leader of the Referendum Party, Sir James Goldsmith, whose 3.5% of the vote Mellow described as ‘derisory’. In the event, Labour won by 6.8%.
The constituency is nestled comfortably between Barnes Common, Putney Heath, Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. Like its neighbour, Richmond Upon Thames, it is a strongly middle class and affluent constituency. But unlike Richmond, where the Lib Dem Jenny Tonge broke former Tory Party Chairman Jeremy Hanley’s reign in 1997, anti-Tory tactical voting in Putney favoured Labour.
But the Tories have benefited here in the past, as in most of Wandsworth - with the exception of Tooting, due to the very low council tax of Margaret Thatcher’s flagship Wandsworth Council. All wards in Putney are held by the Conservatives on Wandsworth Council.