ISLINGTON

INDEPENDENT WORKING CLASS ASSOCIATION

MP condemned over housing vote

7th April 2008

The Independent Working Class Association (IWCA) has condemned the actions of Islington South MP, Emily Thornberry, after it was discovered that she voted with the government against proposals to increase funding for new and existing council homes.

The proposals, set out in an amendment to the government's Housing and Regeneration Bill on 31 March, were defeated in the House of Commons by 259 to 74.

IWCA spokesperson, Gary O'Shea, said the episode had exposed the MP's self-styled image as a ‘social housing crusader' as "a complete sham".

The vote for more money came after it was estimated that the number of affordable homes needed are at least double the amount that can be built under the government's current spending plans.

It is now likely that only ‘new need' will be met, meaning the nation's waiting list levels will still be at around the1.6 million mark in 2020.

Also voted down was a demand for more funding to be made available for the maintenance of existing council homes, after New Labour's own research showed that current funding is set at little more than half of what is actually required.

Gary O'Shea said, "She talks of how ‘desperately we need social housing', but when it comes to the crunch she votes against having more council homes and also against looking after the ones we have left.

"Seeing that she had a majority of less than 500 at the last election, at the next election she might end up rueing the day she voted against more resources for social housing, while representing an area with over 13,000 on the housing waiting list."

"Ms Thornberry has already been caught saying one thing and doing another when she bought a former housing association property in Islington belonging to Ujima Housing Association, while at the same time calling for more social housing in her constituency. It will be interesting to see how this latest episode plays with the public."

 

New Labour's Housing minister Caroline Flint MP, pictured above with Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry, caused outrage recently when she suggested council and housing association tenants who were unable to find work should be thrown out of their homes.

Ms Flint, though, faces no such concerns over employment or housing for herself or her family. In addition to her own substantial ministerial salary, Flint claimed more than £22,000 last year for her second home allowance. Of course, this is not the only perk her household enjoys at taxpayers' expense. She employs her husband among her staff in a post not advertised and which had no interviews conducted.

Local MP Emily Thornberry took a significant knock recently when it was revealed that, in addition to their £2.5 million mansion in Barnsbury, Emily and her High Court Judge husband had also bought a £575,000 townhouse from the probably corrupt and discredited housing association, Ujima.

04 August 2008 09:40