If the Prime Minister is to be believed Swindon’s Conservative Administration has been handing out flats to those who choose not to work. The local Tories have been in charge of council housing for around eight years so why is Mr Cameron criticising them for dishing out flats to the unemployed?
If the Prime Minister is to be believed Swindon’s Conservative Administration has been handing out flats to those who choose not to work. The local Tories have been in charge of council housing for around eight years so why is Mr Cameron criticising them for dishing out flats to the unemployed?
In reality there are around 15,000 applicants for social housing trying to get a roof over their heads. The housing applicants must be wondering why they have not been successful and have to go through a strict bidding process controlled by demanding criteria and independent officers.
I am not sure if Cameron is criticising the Tory Administration for being lax following an alternative agenda to the right wing dogma which he espouses or is just simply trying to divide the nation again with urban myths in order to make more cuts to benefits for the employed and unemployed. 93% of those receiving Housing Benefits are employed who need assistance to make ends meets.
The Tories Policies seem to only treat Council Housing as an asset which can be converted into money for Central Government coffers. Swindon Tax payers who have contributed to local housing have been paying over the top for years to Central Government. Only recently we had to secure our Council stock with a multi million bill then there is the current con on council house right to buy. Whilst promising a new house for old in reality the town will only see about 30% back to the Housing Revenue Account. Most of us know new for old is a fairy tale and that someone has to pay however it will not be the purchaser it will be those waiting for a house that has been lost from the councils housing stock forever.
At a time when the country needs growth and the IMF admits that the formula the Conservatives have been following is wrong we need to consider does it help to set people against each other. How does it help making up stories and setting those who have little against those who have nothing? No one but Cameron is saying ‘you shouldn’t be better off out of work’, what they are saying is we would rather be better off in full time work, not unemployed or in part time unsafe temporary jobs. Perhaps he might want to apologise to the decent public servants who have to deal with the housing shortage and welfare shortfall. They are the ones who have to deal with human tradegy and desperation of those whose only choice is either to cut the food they eat or the heating they need in order to cover the cuts.
Councillor Bob Wright
Central Ward
