Putney Debates 2024 Revives Historic Tradition


Aiming to have the biggest programme of meetings in the country

Candidates for the Putney Constituency clockwise from top left: Heiko Khoo - Workers Party of Britain, Kieren McCarthy - Liberal Democrats, Lee Roberts - Conservatives, Fergal McEntee	- Green, Eilis Jordan - Independent Moderator not standing for election, Fleur Anderson - Labou
Candidates for the Putney Constituency clockwise from top left: Heiko Khoo - Workers Party of Britain, Kieren McCarthy - Liberal Democrats, Lee Roberts - Conservatives, Fergal McEntee - Green, Eilis Jordan - Independent Moderator not standing for election, Fleur Anderson - Labour. Photos were not available of Felix Burford-Connole - The Rejoin EU Party and Peter Hunter Reform UK

June 21, 2024

In the historic tradition of the 1647 Putney Debates, The Putney Debates 2024 is a series of public meetings and general hustings where the candidates and parties standing in Putney Constituency share their views and present their solutions to the great questions of our time.

The aim is to revive grass-roots democratic participation in the electoral process and be the most intensive and comprehensive election debates taking place anywhere in the country.

A wide range of non-selective public hustings at venues all over the Putney constituency have been organised with the first taking place this Thursday (20 June) at Granard School and continuing until 3 July, the day before the election.

All candidates or their nominated representatives will be allotted equal time to speak and respond to questions and live streaming and recording of all the events is encouraged. The discussions will be independently moderated by local teacher Eilis Jordan.

The organisers say, “The Putney Debates 2024 is an initiative to enliven the democratic process and public participation during this election - drawing on the historical example of the 1647 Putney Debates.

“We believe the Putney Debates 2024 can put Putney on the political map as the place with the most participatory and intensive election campaign in the country.

Videos of each discussion will be published on the Putney Debates 2024 web site.

The Putney Debates are held in publicly funded meeting places booked under the Representation of the People Act 1983 – Section 95 & 96 for the purpose of promoting or procuring the giving of votes in the forthcoming election.

All the Putney Debates are non-selective hustings and are open to the public

SUBJECT

VENUE

DATE & TIME

General Hustings

West Hill Primary School
5 Merton Rd, SW18 5ST

Friday 21 June

6.15pm -8.30pm

Political and Economic Philosophy -
Capitalism, socialism, liberalism, nationalism, etc. candidates explain their basic philosophy and economic theories.

Putney Library
5-7 Disraeli Rd,
SW15 2DR

Monday 24 June

6.30pm-8.45pm

General Hustings

Ashcroft Technology Academy
100 West Hill, SW15 2UT

Tuesday 25 June
5.30pm-7.30pm

War and Peace - People and Planet –What is Britain’s place and role in the world and what should it be? Climate change, the environment, Net Zero policies etc.

Putney Library
5-7 Disraeli Rd,
SW15 2DR

Wednesday 26 June

6.30pm-8.45pm

Health and Science what can be done to improve the NHS? What lessons can be learned from Covid? What is the proper relationship between science and society?

Putney Library
5-7 Disraeli Rd,
SW15 2DR

Thursday 27 June

6.30pm-8.45pm

Democracy, Power and Parliament– Is Parliamentary democracy in crisis? What reforms, should be considered? Is free speech under threat? What is the role of supranational organisations like the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, the European Union? 

Putney Library
5-7 Disraeli Rd,
SW15 2DR

Friday 28 June

6.30pm-8.45pm

General Hustings

Ashcroft Technology Academy
100 West Hill, SW15 2UT

Saturday 29 June
2pm-4.30pm

Education, Housing, Transport and Urban Life - Crime, National Security and Immigration
How should we solve  education, housing and transport issues? How should we approach immigration, crime, policing?

Putney Library
5-7 Disraeli Rd,
SW15 2DR

Monday 1 July
6.15pm-8.45pm

Technology, AI, and the Future of Humanity
What are the advantages and dangers of technology? How can we influence, shape and control technology for the good of humanity and our local communities?

Bradlehow School
32 Brandlehow Rd,
SW15 2ED

Tuesday 2 July
7pm-8.45pm

General Hustings

Roehampton Church of England School
245, Roehampton Lane
SW15 4AA

Wednesday 3 July
6pm-9pm

 

 

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