Haringey protest against Tory housing minister

Local residents living in temporary accommodation heckled Tory housing minister Grant Shapps yesterday in Broadwater Farm, Tottenham, north London, over attacks on housing.

Protesters are opposed to government proposals to cut housing benefits, end new secure council tenancies and increase rents.

David Lammy, the local Labour MP, issued a challenge to the minister to meet local council residents. The protest at the Broadwater Farm centre was supported by Haringey Alliance for Public Services, the Defend Council Housing campaign and Haringey Unison union representatives.

A local council tenant, who didn’t want to be named, said, “Every aspect of housing is being attacked. There needs to be a united campaign of local residents. If we’d known a Tory Minister was coming, we’d have all turned out.”