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Dobbo: Housing policy is 'daft'
THE government’s rigid refusal to invest in Camden’s
crumbling council homes is the “daftest possible policy”,
Holborn and St Pancras MP Frank Dobson warned yesterday (Wednesday).
Ministers were accused of ignoring tenants’ wishes and
the views of their own Labour party members by pushing ahead
with plans to sell off homes and privatise council housing.
Mr Dobson was among speakers at a Parliamentary protest meeting
in Westminster’s Central Hall – organised by pressure
group Defend Council Housing (DCH).
He said: “I’m sorry to be here – I wish it wasn’t
necessary and that we weren’t having a campaign to save
council housing.”
Camden has been refused the £283 million it needs to bring
all of its properties up to decent standards. That money has
been frozen for two years since tenants and leaseholders voted
against switching control of their homes to a housing association
or new management companies known as Arms-Length Management
Organisations (Almos).
Mr Dobson said: “I cannot understand why the government
is pursuing this policy which is both wrong and unpopular –
that’s the daftest possible policy for any government.
The policy is quite wrong. It is quite clear that in many parts
of the country tenants do not want their homes transferred.
It should be up to the tenants to choose.”
Alan Walter, DCH campaigner who lives in Kentish Town, told
the meeting that it was time to “turn the screw on ministers”.
He said: “There is unity in this campaign. It couldn’t
be done without MPs and councillors but it also can’t be
done without council tenants.”
Austin Mitchell, a Labour MP, added: “We have to tell this
government to stop this war on council housing. Authorities
have been bribed, bullied and bamboozled into giving away their
housing stock. Stock that has been lovingly looked after for
the poorest sections of our society.” |
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