Families driven out of London homes
I read a report on February 14 that the London Borough of Camden will shortly be contacting 731 families in their area (these families include 900 children) to advise them that as a result of the Government's benefit cap they will no longer be able to afford their current accommodation or any other home in the south-east.
In Westminster, 2,327 households would be affected. There are 33 London boroughs.
I understand that the Borough of Camden has been contacting towns and cities up to 200 miles from London in order to find cheaper accommodation, Leicester being one these.
Housing would be just one of the disruptions facing displaced families if this Government policy is fully implemented.
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Employment, education, and health will be some of the other services called upon by families being uprooted. Is Leicester or any other city or town in a position to assist the London boroughs?
The Government argues those in work should always be better off than those out of work – hence the cap on benefits.
It seems not to take into account the cost of living in London and the high rents. It is argued the poor will be displaced and London will become a city for the rich.
It seems the Government is quick to implement ill thought-through policies and leave local authorities to provide, or not, from reduced budgets.
No Government should be instrumental in making people homeless – it should provide support and stability for its citizens.
In my view, we should welcome all people to our city but resist policies driving out people from their homes.
Paul Martin, Leicester.
5 Comments
by bapcav
Thursday, February 21 2013, 9:52AM
“graydjames ;
The BBC has admitted it has an institutional left-wing bias. But it hasn´t done anything to correct it.
Get real and take off the red-tinted spectacles.
Or is it a case that only left-wing contriburors like yourself are allowed to comment ?”
by graydjames
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 9:08PM
“For goodness sake BAPCAV please stop this silly record you continue to play over and over and over again. You are always droning on and on and on about left-wing bias in this paper (as well as on the BBC). You plainly don't know what you are talking about. This paper has ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS tended towards the right of politics. It simply doesn't matter how many times you say something different you are quite simply wrong. It tends continually and predominantly to the right. You want to read it properly, especialy the editorials, instead of selectively chosing letters where the writers happen to be from the left.
I think you will also find that pretty much every letter is printed. I've never failed to have a letter printed since my first one over 40 years ago and there's nothing particularly special about my letter writing. The letters page reflects what people are writing about and as far as I am concerned there are plenty of right leaning letters - some of them extremist in my view (Tallis, Hankey, Ball and others).
Also why shouldn't people write in on national issues. Are you really so insular and parochial?”
by agewait
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 12:49PM
“@bapcav: Do you ever read before you comment? NOTE: "I understand that the Borough of Camden has been contacting towns and cities up to 200 miles from London in order to find cheaper accommodation, Leicester being one these. Housing would be just one of the disruptions facing displaced families if this Government policy is fully implemented"
Both of your queries are answered in this one paragraph from Paul. 1) Leicester will be impacted by the Tories draconian Bedroom tax, and the rising rents of unscrupulous landlords, usually one and the same – Tories. No one needs an excuse to challenge the current shower of hired hands residing in 10 Downing St. Tory policies, dictated by the paymasters, are not only repugnant, they are Unjust. Your grasp on the media-bias is verging on the laughable.”
by Graham_LE8
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 11:09AM
“@ bapcav; This issue could turn out to be very relevent to Leicester - if the provinces like ourselves are put under duress to accept people moved as a result of this policy, it will have a very detrimental affect on housing availability here (which we're told is already at a premium).
And it removes the social cost of supporting these families from the capital's councils to our own...”
by bapcav
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 9:52AM
“What has this got to do with Leicester.
It´s just another excuse for an attack on the Conservatives.
The Editor needs to get a grip on his left-wing biassed Letters Editor !”