Greens promise to protect social housing at local election launch
5 April 2018
* Greens promise to repair social homes, give residents a say in their future and stand up against unwanted demolition of estates
* Jonathan Bartley, co-leader, calls on Government to “treat social housing with the value it deserves” and end Right to Buy
* Bartley: “Greens value social housing and will fight to protect it”
The Green Party will promise to protect social housing today at the launch of its local election campaign.
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, will make the pledge at the launch in Central Hill housing estate in London [1], one of six facing demolition under regeneration plans by Lambeth Council [2].
Bartley will promise Green councillors elected on May 3 will always work to repair social homes instead of demolishing them in favour of developers building private housing. He will also pledge Green councillors will give people a say in their futures – with meaningful input into plans for their community and a ballot for residents on the demolition of their homes.
Greens are contesting more than 2200 seats on May 3 and hope to elect Greens on more local authorities than ever before as the party works towards having a Green on every council [3].
At the launch Bartley will also call on the Government to “treat social housing with the value it deserves” and end Right to Buy, which has seen the number of social homes sold increase by more than 400% since Conservative ministers revamped the rules in 2012 [4].
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, is expected to say:
“Cosy, complacent councils like this one in Lambeth have forgotten the communities they are meant to serve. Greens know that houses and flats aren’t commodities, they are the homes where we build our lives, start families and make memories.
“Any community which puts a Green on their council chooses someone who values social housing and will fight to protect it. Greens will always work to give people a say in their futures – and stand with them to oppose the demolition of homes against their wishes
“With the political will, we could work to repair social homes rather than demolish them and scatter communities across the country. It’s time, too, the Government treated social housing with the value it deserves and ended the Right to Buy scheme which has pushed stock to crisis point.
“Greens will always be a bold, brave voice standing up for local communities and challenging the status quo. One Green has the power to transform a community.”
Notes:
Green Party local election campaign launch
Thursday 5 April 2018
Speech from Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, with campaigners in Central Hill housing estate in London, which is facing demolition.
2.
In Lambeth Green councillor Scott Ainslie has stood with residents on six estates facing demolition by the Labour led council. The planned regeneration of Central Hill housing estate will destroy a community and leave the borough with fewer social homes as a result. The Green Party believes residents should always get a say over what happens to their homes and will never stand by while social homes are destroyed.
3.
4.
In April 2012 Conservative minister “revamped” RTB rules. Since then the number of homes sold off has increased by 409 per cent: from 2,638 in 2011-12 to 13,416 in 2016-17. They raised the maximum discount on a property to £75,000 – it has since increased further, to more than £100,000, in some parts of the country.