09.03.1995

Creating homeless

WANDSWORTH council leader Sir Paul Beresford proved his love for Thatcherism by going beyond her anti-working class housing laws and, in the words of the district auditor, “broke the law to house the homeless in its rush to sell council homes”. Wandsworth has halved its ability to house people since 1983. The Department of Environment planning inspector said the council was not providing enough affordable housing. We must conclude that, as author of the Good Council Guide and a former member of the Audit Commission, Sir Paul knew what he was doing.

The Auditor cleared the council of gerrymandering, although The Guardian writes, “In one area expenditure was disproportionately high in a number of marginal Conservative wards.” Not all the home buyers are happy with the council’s sales policy, as many are now sitting on negative equity. Having been duped by one set of politicians, they are now going to vote Labour, paving the way for them to be duped by the other lot.

Nothing is going to be done to punish the miscreants because the cost of legal action is likely to exceed the probable surcharge.

By the way, Sir Paul has not been penalised for aggravating the housing problem. He is now Minister of Housing.

Communists are for decent housing for all as a right. We support the right of the homeless to occupy empty properties and call for an emergency building programme wherever there is a shortage of suitable houses.

Arthur Lawrence