Wandsworth general election 2015: Who will take Tooting?

It is an area rapidly undergoing gentrification. Sadiq Khan, who has been MP since 2005, swept the board in the last election. Will his competition steal that Tooting seat?

Sadiq Khan, Labour

Sadiq was born in St George’s Hospital, and grew up on the Henry Prince Estate and then in Tooting Bec. He went to local state schools Fircroft and Ernest Bevin College before becoming a lawyer, going on to run one of the country's most successful firms. He met and married his wife, who also grew up in the area. They are raising their two daughters in Tooting.

While running his law firm and being chairman of Liberty, Sadiq also served as a Wandsworth councillor for twelve years. He has been MP for 10 years and held a number of ministerial positions.

1. I believe housing is the biggest issue affecting Wandsworth residents - tackling this is my top priority. If re-elected, and we have a Labour government, we will begin building one million new homes by 2020. We’ll also fix the rental market, scrapping rip-off letting agent fees and introduce three-year tenancies that limit rent rises. We’ll scrap the immoral bedroom tax too.

2. Community campaigning has gone from strength to strength in Tooting. My proudest achievement has to be working with our friends and neighbours as the local MP to save a number of community treasures - from Tooting Bec Athletics Track, to the Romany Scout Hut, one o’clock clubs, and The Wheatsheaf pub while bringing investment to Balham & Earlsfield Stations.

3. I’ve lived here all my life and am raising my family here. Our country should work for everyone, not just those at the very top. Only Labour is committed to making the changes we need: to save and transform our NHS, invest in better paid jobs, extra apprenticeships for young people, more affordable homes and better help for families.

4. Out of control rents, VAT and energy price hikes and the bedroom tax mean that many local people are really struggling. It is shaming that over 2,000 Wandsworth residents used a Foodbank last year. Hearing about the tough time people in our community are facing never fails to upset me on the doorstep. I want to do something about that.

5. Politics isn’t about winning, it’s about improving people’s lives. I’m really proud of what I have achieved as your MP, working alongside local residents to improve our wonderfully diverse area. There is so much more to do. I’m asking for your support on Thursday so we can continue working to make Tooting an even better place to live and work.​

General Election 2015: Wandsworth general election 2015: Let the battle for Battersea commence

General Election 2015: Putney's candidates trying to shake the Tory stronghold

Dan Watkins, Conservative

I grew up near Kingston and was state-school educated, before living in Tooting for the past 14 years. In 2006 I started a business, located in Earlsfield, and through its growth have created dozens of jobs.

Locally, I'm a Governor of Oak Lodge School for the Deaf in Nightingale ward, as well as a volunteer at the CDG charity in Wandsworth, mentoring the long-term unemployed back into work. As part of my commitment to the community, I'm also the founder of the Tooting Voluntary Force, where local volunteers regularly give their time to support local charities and environmental projects.

1. I'll tackle disadvantage by improving social engagement - inspiring much more civic involvement and reaching out to everyone. This approach has been the foundation of my campaign because together we can build a better Tooting.

2. Working with some amazing people to save our threatened community spaces - the Romany scout site, Wandsworth Common/Trinity Fields, the Trafalgar Arms and Wheatsheaf pubs, the Tooting Bec Lodge. Our community hubs are vital to the future of Tooting.

3. I'm passionate about Tooting! I’ve set up the annual Love Your Local high street awards, created a grant fund for young entrepreneurs, listed numerous historic and community-focussed buildings, and created an environmental volunteering group. I run my own business in Earlsfield so I know people want results, not promises.

4. Someone misidentified me as local Lib Dem campaigner Jon Irwin and harangued me over his latest cycling proposal.

5. I’m a South London boy, I'm positive, and I’m the only candidate who will dedicate all of their time to making our area even better - tackling disadvantage, helping our young people and improving the environment.

Przemek Skwirczynski, Ukip

I am a 32 year old married father of two who is proud to be Christian and active in Christian charity work in London. My professional background is in finance and I have an Economics degree from the London School of Economics , which means that I would be a prudent MP who can be trusted with our country's budget.

I have chosen to represent Ukip as I want to see more direct democracy and challenge the out-of-touch political establishment. I am passionate about increasing United Kingdom's and London's global influence, and have contributed to Ukip's policy on Commonwealth free trade. I support Chelsea FC.

1. Anti-social behaviour has been on the rise, with more violent crime, street-drinking and fly-tipping. I would address these as a priority, by increasing the numbers of police on the beat, allocating more street lighting and increasing the level (and likelihood of execution) of fines.

2. Challenging the merger of Wandsworth and Richmond Conservative councils with a call for a local referendum. There is likely to be a big impact on the provision of services, yet the residents have not been consulted in what seems like a significant back-room deal between two Conservative-run councils. I believe in direct democracy and giving residents a say.

3. I come from outside the political establishment, am relatively young and represent a party which wants more direct democracy. As such as an MP I would be more committed to Tooting as I will not have to follow the party line on local issues and would consult residents on how they would like me to vote on major issues.

4. It has to be the question on splitting the votes on the right. Firstly, Conservatives do not even consider Tooting a target seat per the document that got leaked last winter. Secondly, Ukip has actually been taking more votes from Labour than it has from the Tories, as it became apparent that Labour no longer represents the working class.

5. I would consult Tooting constituents to ensure I vote in Parliament in line with my constituents' preferences. I would champion St George's Hospital and protect the NHS. I would crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour. I would push for lower rates, more free parking to boost Tooting businesses. I would promote Tooting internationally with our Commonwealth and European partners.

Esther Obiri-Darko, Green Party

I am a local resident of Tooting and have been for nine years. I am a chemistry teacher. I am passionate about young people and their role and importance in our communities and am concerned about the diminishing services for them.

My other interest lie in the welfare and rights of women. My membership with UN Women UK and WWAFE (Women Worldwide Advancing Freedom and Equality) has allowed me to work alongside organisations and learn about the many issues and challenges that face women and girls here in the UK and internationally.

1. During this election campaign I have noticed the large numbers of the local residents that are utterly frustrated by the lack of care shown by those in power. If elected I would introduce a system whereby the community have a regular opportunity to speak to me and hold me accountable. Not just at a clinic where residents can come to see me, but also opportunities where I go to see them. Whether that be in a Town Hall meeting, speaking in our mosques, churches, and schools. Engaging community groups not only empowers them, but also allows access to actively take part in the democratic process.

2. In a recent hustings, I was approached at the end by two young woman who told me that seeing me on the panel gave them hope.

3. I am different from the other candidates because I think I truly represent those living in Tooting. I understand and indeed have experienced some of the struggles that many of our residents have. As a minority, I understand and feel the frustration of not having your voice heard or represented. As a renter, I understand the uncertainty and insecurity of the rental market. As a mid-career professional I feel the frustration of working hard and yet still finding it difficult to "get ahead"

I also don’t see politics as a career, I see it as a vocation. It’s about treating people as worthy in themselves, not as a means to an end. It’s about caring and acting for our communities now and for those to come.

4. In early January while door knocking, I spoke to a nurse who had become so frustrated and disillusioned by the unreasonable and at times life threating changes in the hospital she worked at, that she had resigned. She vowed never to work in a hospital again. It sadden me to think that this is happening up and down the UK, and not just in our hospitals, but in our schools too. We’re losing this incredibly valuable resource of men and women who work long hours, who often go above and beyond what is required of them and are still not valued by our government. My conversation with her galvanised me even more to work for a society that puts people first, not profit.

5. I stand for a party that puts principles people and values first. I care about the big picture, now and in the future. I care about Tooting and believe in a strong community spirit. The other mainstream parties have little new to offer. They won’t take on the banks, defend public services, abolish student tuition fees, address obscenely high pay and bonuses or address climate change.

Philip Ling, Liberal Democrats 

After many years of frustratingly watching Question Time, getting annoyed at politicians inability to give a straight answer, and being an on/off inactive member of the Liberal Democrats, I decided in 2007 to get involved in politics properly and have since been Chair of Bromley Liberal Democrats and Parliamentary Candidate for Bromsgrove in the 2010 General Election.

I am currently an activist for London Liberal Democrats, Treasurer of Chinese Lib Dems and on the Liberal Democrats Leadership programme - aimed at getting more women, LGBT and ethnic minorities into parliament.

1. Housing is the biggest cost of living issue in Tooting for those renting or trying to buy. There has simply not been enough building nationally or locally. I will put pressure on the Tory Council to deliver on affordable homes and build more social housing. The Mayor of London also has a responsibility and needs to be held to account.

2. I’ve been campaigning on road safety and housing locally, however a national policy which has made a difference in Tooting is the Pupil Premium aimed at the children in primary schools from the poorest backgrounds. An extra £12.3m for our excellent local schools.

3. I’ve worked in both the private and public sector so I know the strengths and weaknesses of both areas. For my age, I’m not a career politician, so I understand well the challenges my peer group faces. However, being political active, means I interact and am exposed to issues impacting everyone.

4. Trust in politics and the Lib Dems. I can only point to the Lib Dem policies implemented such as income tax cuts for 27m people, money for the poorest pupils, protecting state pensions, ringfenced NHS budget, trebling of renewable energy and shared parental leave as examples of what we have delivered.

5. If you want a hardworking local MP, standing up for you against the Tory run Council, not thinking about being London Mayor or how to get a cabinet position then vote Philip Ling.