Tories threaten security of tenure for eight million social housing
tenants and Britain’s house building programme
26th February 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
tomorrow (Saturday, 27 February) tell a conference in London of
Labour councillors from all over Britain.
Speaking together with housing minister, John Healey, Jack
Dromey will highlight:
- 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. As a
result, Tory councils in the south east alone would prevent the
building of 15 per cent fewer homes between now and 2026, according
to Tory planning proposals in their green paper.
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 will say: ”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 £85.00 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, will say: ”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. No wonder Taylor Wimpey’s chief
executive, Peter Redfern, described Conservative housing plans as
‘scary as hell’.“
ENDS
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