Despite being only 18, Dylan Henderson is not fazed by the prospect of becoming the Liberal Democrats’ first representative on Wandsworth Council in over a decade.
“I’ll be a councillor who listens to residents’ concerns and fights for their interests and does so with honesty and integrity,” the party’s candidate for the upcoming Trinity by-election, told Putney.news.
For Dylan, it’s personal: the area bounded by Tooting Bec and Balham Tube stations at one end and Wandsworth Common at the other has been his home nearly his whole life. It is the second time he is standing to be its representative following the local elections in May.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Labour deputy leader and councillor Lizzy Dobres, who resigned to take up a new “politically restricted” job.
That has left the political balance of the council on a knife-edge, with 29 councillors representing the Conservatives and 27 representing Labour. Independent Malcolm Grimston is currently the kingmaker and allows the Conservatives to govern under certain conditions via his Confidence and Supply agreement.
Laying out his campaign priorities to Putney.news, Dylan tells us that having spoken to residents, neighbours and friends, the three most pressing issues facing them are “cost of living, green spaces and crime”.
Trinity deserves a “councillor who is prepared to be honest with residents when their money is on the line”, Dylan argues, pointing to a lack of transparency from the newly formed Conservative administration regarding council tax as an example.
“It’s going to go up by around 5% due to the government kind of focusing them,” he notes, claiming that the new Conservative Administration “haven’t been clear with residents.”
A resident of Wandsworth for his whole life, Dylan draws on his love for Wandsworth Common as fuel for his passionate defence of green spaces and urges Wandsworth council to preserve its natural beauty by getting “serious” about litter and waste.
“It’s a great place to hang out, especially during Covid. It’s one of the things that makes our community so special. As a councillor, I would push for more frequent cleaning and make sure dog bags are available via bins to ensure Wandsworth Common is a place we can all enjoy.”
With petty crime on the rise, the Liberal Democrats have offered support to the Council’s pledge of increasing police officers around Wandsworth. However, Dylan has pledged to go further and will “champion more frequent police patrols and cameras” with the goal of “keeping everyone safe”.
Has Brexit ignited a new generation?
Ten years on from the Brexit referendum that reshaped British politics and which continues to cause controversy, Dylan pinpoints this seismic event as the act that first sparked his interest in politics.
“The Brexit referendum was a huge thing and had a massive impact on everyone’s life. Suddenly I thought, wow, this is something that is really affecting my life.”
This early interest in politics was then sharpened by his A-level studies. Here, he developed political beliefs and opinions which then directed him towards membership with the second-youngest major party in the UK.
“I looked at the parties and which ones stood up for the things I wanted. I support a customs union with the EU, one day rejoining and a fair voting system, and the Liberal Democrats had that.”
“People agree on lots of things; they disagree on the details”
Although the national political environment continues to showcase politics as a bruising and unforgiving environment, Dylan feels that we can still manage collaboration at the local level.
“I think Andy Burnham said quite recently, there’s a lot more things which unify people than divide people. Talking to people during the election, you realise people are very similar in many ways.
“Most people agree on most things; they just disagree on the details. You can work with people.”
Admitting he was a little intimidated standing at the last local election, Dylan signs off by explaining that any scrutiny and pressure are offset by the opportunity to actively push forward change that will benefit people. “It’s quite an uplifting thing to know you’re positively contributing to something.”
The Trinity by-election takes place on 27 August.
Putney.news has offered all five candidates an interview.
“ a lack of transparency from the newly formed Conservative administration regarding council tax as an example.”
Laughable because it was the Labour administration that was hiding it in Wandsworth whilst the conservatives were highlighting it. It’s a massive hole that could bankrupt the council so there is a study to see where cost reduction can be made and then how much tax will need to rise. The previous council wanted to borrow it all!
I think this Lib Dem candidate should rethink his statement