Union claims Tory plans threaten secure tenancy
Conservative housing policies threaten the security of tenure of eight million tenants and Britain’s house building programme, a union leader has warned.
Unite deputy general secretary Jack Dromey told a conference of Labour councillors on Saturday that the opposition party has been advising Tory councils to block government plans to meet projected housing demand. He said if Tory councils in the south east alone acted on this advice, 15 per cent fewer homes would be built between now and 2026.
Speaking alongside housing minister John Healey, Mr Dromey also claimed plans had been drawn up in secret by Stephen Greenhalgh, leader of Tory-run Hammersmith and Fulham council, to demolish 3,400 council homes and end security of tenure.
He said: ‘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.
‘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”.’
A Hammersmith and Fulham spokesperson said: ‘The council and Hammersmith & Fulham Homes are working with residents on ways we can ensure homes on the estate and the overall housing environment will be up to the standard people expect in years to come.
‘We want to tackle overcrowding and build more affordable homes so that people living in the estate and their children can stay living in the area.’
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Readers' comments (5)
Melvin Bone | 01/03/2010 9:59 am
As the majority of unions fill up the Labour parties coffers is it any surprise that they would disagree with any of Mr Camerons plans?
I expect the next headline to be 'Pope is a Catholic' or perhaps a story about what bears do in the woods.
Next!
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kass | 01/03/2010 10:55 am
Now tenants know who to vote for. What a laugh to see the tories lose and election they had done and dusted in the bag!
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Dave Hollins | 01/03/2010 1:24 pm
When Hammersmith claim they want to build more affordable homes, they mean subsidised home ownership for people on incomes of up to £80,000 a year. The poor will subsidise the rich, presumably because Hammermsith thinks people on higher incomes will vote Tory. It should be denounced by David Cameron, but no chance.
Jack Dromey has a long interest in housing, perhaps he'll become Housing Minister in the new Labour Government.
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| 01/03/2010 7:39 pm
Stephen Greenhalgh for housing minster in the next Government please. So much more effective than Grant Shapps who is a total waste of time!
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Melvin Bone | 02/03/2010 11:10 am
'The poor will subsidise the rich' ?
Please explain how someone who is 'poor' ie in a council house, receiving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance, Child Benefit & Child Tax Credits is subsidising the rich.
Thanks in advance.
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