ISLINGTON

INDEPENDENT WORKING CLASS ASSOCIATION

IWCA condemns Lib Dem double inflation rent rise

26th February 2009

The Independent Working Class Association (IWCA) has attacked Islington's Lib Dems for implementing double the rate of inflation rent increases for council tenants at a time of recession. 

The 6.2% increases, which will be in force from April, will result in additional hardship for Islington's 23,000 council tenants and will force an already increasing number to claim housing benefit in order to meet the cost of their rents.

The increases will bring minimal benefit to Homes for Islington who manage Islington's council homes, since around two thirds of the extra rent paid will end up in government coffers, rather than in increased services for council tenants. 

The IWCA's Gary O'Shea said "New Labour has been siphoning off money paid by council tenants in rents since it came to power - some £3 billion or more since 1997 and almost every year more tenants are forced into benefit dependency, which in turn government has to pay for. 

"Obviously this is not done because it makes good financial sense. The objective can only be to socially cleanse the borough over time.  As always Islington Lib Dems cravenly implement whatever New Labour throws at them, regardless of the damage to working class people in Islington or the dubious benefit to their own administration."  

26 February 2009 17:06