Mick Whitley, Labour MP for Birkenhead, is supporting our Open Letter for resolving the local government and housing crises. Here are extracts from his speech to Parliament in response to the budget. “The British public understand what this government does not, that you cannot cut your way to growth. They remember how the Tories ideologically … Continue reading Mick Whitley calls for ‘wealth tax and genuinely progressive tax reforms’
Author: lcfch
Local government financial crisis: 19 councils granted “Exceptional Financial Support”
Nineteen councils have been given “Exceptional Financial Support” for the next financial year, 2024/25 and 8 for this financial year, 2023/4. The term “support” sounds like like government money, but in fact it is merely permission to borrow or to sell off assets. This may stave off councils issuing section 114 notices until after the … Continue reading Local government financial crisis: 19 councils granted “Exceptional Financial Support”
The housing record of New Labour – a speech by Paul Watt
"So in other words what’s happened is this... the political party which created this part of the welfare state (council housing), cut it off at its knees – and – they didn’t build any more.". This is a speech by our member Paul Watt, from 2016. It gives a good overview of the disastrous housing … Continue reading The housing record of New Labour – a speech by Paul Watt
“Take back control of the decisions about where they live”
This is reproduced from the Greater Manchester Tenants Union website. Greater Manchester Tenants Union Continues Work With Unit 38 Architects In December we welcomed back Unit 38 Architects to work with members in two of the key neighbourhoods where we are carrying out long term community organising, Hulme, and central Rochdale. Working together with wide groups of … Continue reading “Take back control of the decisions about where they live”
Consultation on timescales for repairs in the social rented sector
We reproduce here a contribution to the consultation on repairs in the social rented sector from the London Tenants Federation. London Tenants Federation London Tenants Federation (LTF) is a membership organisation bringing together a range of borough, neighbourhood and London-wide federations and organisations of tenants (including leaseholders) of social housing providers (both council and housing … Continue reading Consultation on timescales for repairs in the social rented sector
“Unfreeze the temporary accommodation subsidy”
As we have written before the freeze of the Local Housing Allowance is one of the key factors driving the financial crisis of some councils, especially, though not exclusively, district councils. We reproduce here Emma Taylor-Beal's speech to Worthing council on the temporary accommodation crisis. Emma is the Cabinet member for Housing. Ahead of the … Continue reading “Unfreeze the temporary accommodation subsidy”
Permitted Development Rights
The House of Commons Library has produced a useful briefing on Permitted Development Rights which were introduced as a means of speeding up production of homes by dispensing with the usual planning rules. The government said PDRs can help speed up housing delivery by reducing the “bureaucratic burdens” of the planning system. It said PDRs can help … Continue reading Permitted Development Rights
Politicians “must dare to be bold” – the self-made economic straitjacket for a Labour government, should be abandoned
Our Open Letter on resolving the local government and housing crises quoted a Guardian editorial which said that the next government would either “have to repudiate Jeremy Hunt's cuts or enact them”. A similar point has been made by Jim Pickard and Sam Fleming in the Financial Times (‘Hemmed in’: Labour stores up trouble with … Continue reading Politicians “must dare to be bold” – the self-made economic straitjacket for a Labour government, should be abandoned
Fire Fighters’ Manifesto – investment not cuts
The FBU has produced a Manifesto for the forthcoming General Election. The Firefighters' Manifesto | Fire Brigades Union (fbu.org.uk) Although it is directed at all Parties, with Labour likely to go into government, the FBU will be fighting for its members interests and for an improved fire service. It is affiliated to the Party. The … Continue reading Fire Fighters’ Manifesto – investment not cuts
Decarbonising housing is not an optional extra
Media release Labour Campaign for Council Housing Labour's Green Prosperity Plan After weeks of will they won't they, and contradictory statements from different members of the shadow cabinet, Labour's Green Prosperity Plan has been cut from £28 billion to £15 billion, of which only £5 billion is in addition to Tory spending plans. The “fiscal … Continue reading Decarbonising housing is not an optional extra
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 