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Morning Briefing: Corbyn defends intervention in Haringey Council
Jeremy Corbyn defends the unprecedented intervention at Haringey Council, Vince Cable calls for Right to Buy to be scrapped, and a disabled man wins the right to bring a landmark case against government over Universal Credit
In the news
Jeremy Corbyn has defended Labour’s decision to ask Haringey Council to halt its controversial public-private housing scheme.
The Guardian reports that in a speech to party councillors on Saturday, the Labour leader said it is crucial for local authorities to reverse the privatisation of public services, pointing to cases where councils are already “taking measures to bring services back in-house and reject costly [private finance initiative]-style models”.
He said the Haringey intervention was a “unique situation”.
Labour’s National Executive Committee recently took the step of asking Haringey Council to reconsider its decision to set up the Haringey Development Vehicle – a partnership with private developer Lendlease that would have seen some of the council’s housing transferred into the private partnership.
The government should scrap Right to Buy, the leader of the Liberal Democrats has urged, blaming the policy for a “catastrophic shortage” of homes in England.
Sir Vince Cable said that there must be “an immediate pause” on the scheme for both councils and housing associations until the homes that have been sold are replaced with more affordable housing, The Times reports. This has been Liberal Democrat policy since 2014.
Homeless people with terminal illnesses could be offered an automatic right to housing under new plans going before parliament, The Independent reports.
Former cabinet minister and Liberal Democrat MP Sir Edward Davey wants to make it easier for people deemed “intentionally homeless” who have cancer or a long-term illness to get end of life care and permanent housing.
The MP wants to change the law to remove the “intentionally homeless” distinction for dying people and use GP palliative care registers to flag up people who are expected to die in the next 12 months.
The Homelessness (End of Life Care) Bill will go before parliament on Wednesday but it will need to win the support of MPs and ministers to move forward.
The Guardian reports that a terminally ill man has won the right to launch a landmark legal challenge to the government over its introduction of Universal Credit after the controversial new benefits system left him significantly worse off.
The 52-year-old, known only as TP, has Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the rare lymph node condition Castleman disease. Following a successful hearing last week, a full judicial review of his claim will take place next month, the first High Court challenge of its kind.
On social media
Claire Kober, who recently announced she will quit as leader of Haringey Council following a backlash over the proposed Haringey Development Vehicle, gave interviews across the national media over the weekend:
The day Andrew Marr interviews a few victims of socially-cleansed council housing policy is the day I get my tiny violin out for Kober. Check iPlayer: never once covered until the people had their say (against Haringey Labour)
— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews)The day Andrew Marr interviews a few victims of socially-cleansed council housing policy is the day I get my tiny violin out for Kober. Check iPlayer: never once covered until the people had their say (against Haringey Labour)
— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) February 3, 2018
Clare Kober eloquently destroying the politics of dogma and hate of the Corbynites. Butwhere are the rest of the moderates? Hiding under their pillows, hoping to be left alone.
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges)Clare Kober eloquently destroying the politics of dogma and hate of the Corbynites. Butwhere are the rest of the moderates? Hiding under their pillows, hoping to be left alone.
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) February 4, 2018
Claire Kober’s constant criticism of "ideology" is a canard, all politics is ideological, but reveals the framing of centrism as apolitical - "common sense" and therefore not to be questioned.
— Dawn Foster (@DawnHFoster)Claire Kober's constant criticism of "ideology" is a canard, all politics is ideological, but reveals the framing of centrism as apolitical - "common sense" and therefore not to be questioned.
— Dawn Foster (@DawnHFoster) February 3, 2018
What’s on
- Work and pensions secretary Esther McVey will face questions in parliament at 2.30pm
- The Fire Protection Association is holding an event today on fire safety in tall buildings
