One In Five Brent Households Stuck On Housing Waiting List - Teather

3.33.33pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 11th Jun 2009

Local MP Sarah Teather has spoken up about Brent's housing problems in parliament

Local Liberal Democrat campaigning MP Sarah Teather has used a House of Commons debate to highlight the latest shocking figures showing that one in five Brent families are trapped on the housing waiting list, a huge 57% leap since Labour came to power.

When Labour's Tony Blair became Prime Minister in 1997, 12,974 Brent households were on the housing waiting list. Today that figure has risen to more than 20,386, or 20% of all the households in Brent. This means a higher proportion of Brent households are waiting for housing than in any other outer London borough.

Sarah is calling on the Government to allow Brent Council to be allowed to keep cash from right to buy receipts and tenants' rent to spend on desperately needed new homes in the local area. Nick Clegg, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, also raised this issue at Prime Minister's Questions.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"It is a damning verdict on this Labour government that, after twelve years in power, the number of people left stuck on the housing waiting list has leapt. Gordon Brown has abandoned the very people who need his help the most.

"Every week people come into my constituency office asking for my help in escaping cramped and inadequate housing. The sad truth is that many people have spent most of their life waiting for a permanent home. Unless we act on this now the same misery that has blighted people's childhood will follow them into adulthood as well.

"We have to send the scandalous situation where cash from both right-to-buy sales and tenant's rent is poured straight into the treasury. Gordon Brown must urgently allow Brent to keep this money to spend on the new homes that local people desperately need.

"Poor housing ruins a child's health, education and life chances. I was pleased to be able to raise such a critical problem in parliament and will continue campaigning for better homes for Brent."

Related Links:

Government housing waiting list figures

Sarah's housing speech in parliament

Nick Clegg tackles Gordon Brown at Prime Minister's Questions