Union claims Tory plans threaten secure tenancy

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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