Tories threaten security of tenure for eight million social housing
tenants and Britain’s house building programme
19th March 2010
David Cameron’s housing policies threaten security of tenure for
eight million social housing tenants and Britain’s house building
programme, Unite deputy general secretary, Jack Dromey, will today
(Friday 19 March) tell the Defend Council Housing conference in
London.
Jack Dromey will detail:
- The plans of Steven Greenhaulgh, Conservative leader of
Hammersmith and Fulham Council and leader of David Cameron’s
Council Innovation Unit, drawn up in secret and only exposed by
Freedom of Information requests. Those plans involve the
demolition of 3,400 Council homes, a steep hike in rents and ending
security of tenure.
- The advice given by Caroline Spelman, Tory spokeswoman on
housing to all Tory councils that they should say ‘no’ to
government plans to meet projected housing demand.
- Proposed Tory plans for house building and planning would
prevent the building of 15 per cent fewer homes in the south east
between now and 2026, according to Tory planning proposals in a
green paper. Great damage would also be done to the construction
industry. The West Midlands, which suffered a 22 per cent fall in
construction output in 2009, would be particularly hard
hit.
On the secret plans drawn up by the Tory laboratory council of
Hammersmith and Fulham, hailed by David Cameron as being the future
for local government, Jack Dromey said: ”David Cameron’s flagship
council, Hammersmith and Fulham, has drawn up plans to demolish
3,400 Council homes, end security of tenure and hike up social
housing rents to market levels. A two-bedroom council flat that
currently costs £85 per week would go up to £380 per week.
“David Cameron has hailed Hammersmith and Fulham as the
future. Knocking down council homes, ending security of
tenure and hiking up rents to gerrymander votes is the politics of
the discredited Dame Shirley Porter Westminster past.”
On Tory plans to block the building of tens of thousands of
homes to buy, Jack Dromey said ”David Cameron is no friend of
families who want to buy their own homes. Blocking house building
also damages the economy which badly needs new homes to build
Britain out of recession.
“The hardest hit region in Britain is the West Midlands with a
fall in construction output alone of 22 per cent in 2009. No
wonder Taylor Wimpey chief executive, Peter Redfern described
Conservative housing plans as ‘scary as hell’.’
ENDS
Please find enclosed a brief on the
Tories' housing policies.
Email to a friend
