Around 1,500 people joined a lively march today, Saturday, in London to protest at the Tories’ housing bill which condemns millions more to a lifetime of insecure private renting.
It is a charter for estate demolition and more property speculation driving up rents and house prices.
The march went from the Imperial War Museum to “Cameron’s publicly-funded house” – 10 Downing Street. It was initiated by Lambeth Housing Activists and supported by many groups including Unite Community, Radical Housing Network, Save Cressingham Gardens, Architects for Social Housing, Streets Kitchen, Defend Council Housing and Lambeth NUT.
There were speakers from a wide range of groups. Helen Hayes, Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, condemned the Housing Bill and said Labour would oppose it all the way. But there was criticism from sections of the demonstration for Labour council leaders who attack the Tories but carry out estate demolitions in their own boroughs.
Simon from Architects for Social Housing was cheered when he said, “looking at the Housing Bill, and the other politics that the government is pushing, the only conclusion I can draw is that we’re all headed for the workhouse”.
The march showed the growing revolt as the housing crisis worsens for ordinary people, and the potential for the national housing demonstration on 13 March.
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