Leeds Socialist Party member
TUSC supporters lobbied Leeds city council on 1 April, calling for affordable housing for all. A deputation, led by Socialist Party member and Headingley TUSC council candidate Iain Dalton, addressed the council.
Over the last few months, Leeds TUSC supporters have been campaigning door-to-door calling for a mass council house building programme and the establishment of a not-for-profit, council-run, letting agency.
With over 20,000 on the council house waiting list in Leeds, and a Private Finance Initiative funded council scheme only providing 388 new homes and just over 1,000 refurbished homes, the council’s plans fall far short of what is required.
Tenants are being left in the hands of big landlords and private letting agents, many charging exorbitant rents and ‘admin’ fees often for poor quality housing. In the university areas, landlords have crammed four or more students into what had previously been two-bed properties, pushing families out of the area. This situation has been worsened by the Tory bedroom tax, implemented by Leeds’ Labour council like many others around the country.
Our campaign has helped unite students and local residents. We’ve had hundreds of signatures and have also started an online petition: www.change.org/p/leeds-city-council-establish-a-council-run-letting-agency-build-council-houses.
TUSC Horsforth ward candidate Gary Kaye and student KT Johnston were also in the delegation, which was interviewed by the BBC.
The council referred the issues raised by the deputation to council officers in conjunction with the councillor responsible for housing, Peter Gruen. We now plan on continuing to collect signatures and delivering them to the councillor.
