Defend Council Housing urges: Build new council homes » Housing » 24dash.com

‘Dear Gordon: Invest in decent, affordable, secure and accountable council housing’ is a new Defend Council Housing pamphlet to be launched this month.

The pamphlet makes the financial and political case for the ‘Fourth Option’ to improve existing and build new council homes.

The pamphlet will be launched at 6pm on February 20 at Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons.

Speakers will include: Austin Mitchell MP (chair. House of Commons Council Housing group), Jack Dromey (chair. Labour Party NPF housing working group and Deputy Gen Sec TGWU) and Alan Walter (chair. Defend Council Housing).

A Defend Council Housing spokesman said: “Privatisation of council housing is deeply unpopular. In 2006 tenants voted no in more ballots than ever before. With mortgage repossessions up and private developers and RSL landlords failing to provide the homes people need the case for investing in improving existing and building new council housing is stronger than ever. 

“The Labour Party’s National Policy Forum housing working group is expected to report later this month (following the third consecutive Labour Party conference voting to call on “government to provide the ‘fourth option’ of direct investment to council housing as a matter of urgency”). We need to step up pressure on government.”