Needed: new social housing NOT unaffordable rents


Helen Pattison, East London Socialist Party

Newham council is currently housing 29 families outside the east London borough, including ten that have been shipped out to Birmingham.

A family involved in the No Bedroom Tax in Newham campaign is now threatened with being moved out of the area by the council to either Luton or Birmingham.

Speaking to the mother of four, it is obvious the move will hugely disrupt the children’s education – two are studying their GSCEs – as well as having a big impact on her disabled brother who she also cares for.

Newham council admits it has a shortage of good-quality housing with around 24,000 people on its council house waiting list.

The all-Labour council has spent £30 million on B&Bs for homeless families in the last three years. There is an urgent need for affordable housing in Newham and across London.

No evictions!

The No Bedroom Tax in Newham campaign calls on the Labour council not to evict any families because of the bedroom tax; this will just make the problem worse. They need to start building affordable social housing now.

Last month the council held an event where those being affected by the bedroom tax could add their names to the council housing waiting list and apply to downsize.

But the Labour councillors used the event to blame the Tory government for the bedroom tax.

Yet, other councils have said they will not evict because of bedroom tax arrears for one year. Three councils are reclassifying rooms as studies or box-rooms so the bedroom tax is not applied.

No Bedroom Tax in Newham and East London Socialist Party calls on all councillors to refuse to implement the bedroom tax, reallocate rooms and stand up for the community by building the houses we need.