Axe the Housing Act

Picture is from the Defend Council Housing lobby against the Housing and Planning Bill in the House of Commons earlier this month. A number of MPs, Lords, Tenant representatives, campaigners and trade unions came to speak at it.

I was late due to a union commitment and missed Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, but managed to hear Bethnal Green MP, Rushanara Ali, call for unity in order to oppose the bill. Later Diane Abbot MP, spoke about the need to build more and more Council Homes as the only real solution to the housing crisis, while Emily Thornberry described the housing misery of so many of her constituents, which is why she is known as the "Housing, Housing, Housing MP".

The Bill will steal homes from hard pressed Councils to pay the Tory election bribe on Right to buy for Housing association tenants and it will double or triple the rents of many social tenants who work and likely to result in mass evictions.

I spoke later on why UNISON is so opposed to the Bill. Out big issue is where will low paid families and key workers be able to afford to live in the future?

Not only do we have around 100,000 trade union members who work in social housing but we have 1.3 million predominately low paid, female members, many of which cannot afford a decent home to buy or rent. A recent survey found that a third of our members had grown up children still living with them and now twice as many live in private rented accommodation as in the social rented sector.

After the lobby I went to watch in the gallery the actual debate on the Housing Bill in the House of Commons. I saw Labour and other opposition MPs rip the bill to pieces and completely out of touch rich Tory MPs try to defend it on the grounds that it will benefit families who earn £100,000 per year!

The Bill is now law and despite some concessions is still vile. However, it does not come in force until next year and the Government will have to return to Parliament for approval on regulations etc so there is still time to campaign, oppose and axe!
  

"Stop the Housing Bill" Lobby tomorrow Tuesday 3rd May

I will be at the lobby tomorrow evening after 5pm (Tuesday 3rd May).

From UNISON press release "The Housing and Planning Bill is nearing its conclusion in Parliament, it returns to the Commons on 3 May, when it will be debated by MPs.

This is a crucial debate that could see the Bill voted into law.UNISON is concerned that the bill, if it is passed in its current form, will result in fewer social and affordable homes, housing jobs and services for citizens and the vulnerable. That is why we are supporting this lobby on Tuesday 3 May as part of the Stop the Housing Bill campaign.  

The lobby gives campaigners, housing workers and citizens the opportunity to meet with their Member of Parliament to tell them what is wrong with the Bill and how it will impact on local communities and the housing options of ordinary citizens.

Outside Parliament: Old Palace Yard SW1P 3JY from 12 - 2pm

Then from 3 – 7pm Meeting in Committee Room 12 in parliament with campaigners, Lords and MPs 

https://www.unison.org.uk/events/stop-the-housing-and-planning-bill-national-lobby-of-parliament/   

See also leaflet here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/d4tre8qppvld1qn/KtHB_lobbyMPs_3May2016_A6_2pp.pdf?dl=0 

TUC Rally and Lobby against authoritarian & extremist Tory TU Bill

Picture collage is from yesterday's TUC protest rally and Parliamentary lobby against the Tory Trade Union Bill which is an attempt by the Government to attack fundamental rights and freedoms at work.

First, there was a lunchtime rally in Central Hall, Westminister, which was packed out with over a 1000 people waiting outside. Great speeches and even a song from the UNISON staff Choir. Next I queued for over an hour to get inside the House of Commons to lobby my MP, Lyn Brown, on the Bill.  Lyn has many years of experience in the real working world and knows what is being proposed is unworkable, petty and spiteful as well as a constitutional outrage.

After a group of West Ham residents met with Lyn, some went into the Commons' public gallery to watch the debate on the Housing and Planning Bill. By coincidence (or not) this is yet another hard right, extremist Tory Bill. It was really good to see Labour Shadow Housing Minister, John Healey, monster his Tory minister opponents in this debate.

It was incredible to see and listen to the Tory ministers and MPs' inability to argue in favour of this Housing Bill. All they did was try and score points about what Labour did or did not do in 2009. John had to gently remind them that they had been in power since 2010.

Most of the Tories actually know both the Trade Union and Housing Bills are very dangerous, divisive and authoritarian. Ironically they are arguing for the ending of local democracy and employment freedoms in favour of "Big Government" politics.

Housing Associations and Council Housing stock are being effectively stolen by the State while peaceful picketing and protest will be criminalised.

A future Labour Government has now a precedent on how to act when we next win power.  The Tories will reap what they sow.