David Cameron – 'Shirley Porter in drag'
15th September 2009
The spectre of Shirley Porter - the disgraced former leader of
Westminster council - haunts the current Conservative policy on
council housing, Unite, the largest union in the country, has
said.
Unite was backing the motion at the Trades Union Congress -
debated today (Tuesday, 15 September) - calling for a ‘significant’
increase in the number of council homes, coupled with the need for
more craft-based construction apprentices.
Unite believes Conservative policy - as highlighted by reported
policy changes by its flagship council, Hammersmith and Fulham - is
aimed more at gerrymandering than building more homes for the 1.7
million households on waiting lists.
Unite deputy general secretary, Jack Dromey, said: “The
government is investing hundreds of millions of pounds in the Kick
Start Programme to create 22,000 homes and 20,000 jobs, building
Britain out of recession.
“This is very welcome step in the right direction, but ministers
need to be yet more ambitious, going further and faster.
“But if the electorate thinks the Tories will deliver on council
and social housing, they need to think again.
“One of the Tories’ flagship councils, Hammersmith and Fulham
has drawn up plans that involve the demolition of thousands of
council homes and ending security of tenure, combined with a steep
hike in rents to market levels.
“A two-bedroom council flat that currently costs £85 a week
would go up to £380 a week.
“David Cameron has hailed Hammersmith as the future. Knocking
down council homes, ending security of tenure and hiking up rents
to gerrymander votes is the politics of the Westminster past.
Unless he disowns his flagship council, David Cameron will be
branded as Dame Shirley Porter in drag.”
The 1980s scandal saw council homes in Westminster being sold to
potential Tory voters in marginal wards in a bid to boost the
party’s electoral prospects. Shirley Porter, convicted of
gerrymandering, eventually paid the council £12 million as
settlement of the surcharge for her role.
ENDS
For further information, please contact: Jack Dromey on 07976
833 362 or Shaun Noble (communications officer) on 07768 693
940.
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