News from Southampton Labour

Cameron highlights Conservative double talk in Southampton

In one of his last acts in Parliament Conservative leader David Cameron has personally put his signature on a measure calling for the Government’s newly introduced legislation to regulate Houses in Multiple Occupation to be revoked, against the express wishes of thousands of Southampton residents.

Using an Early Day Motion the Conservative leader has called for Government measures to make bad landlords apply for a license before they are allowed to turn family homes into large shared houses to be shelved. Many areas of Southampton experience difficulty with large volumes of badly maintained Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Fortunately the Tory hierarchy missed some crucial words from the end of the motion and it will not affect the new legislation.

Dr Alan Whitehead, Labour Candidate for Southampton Test, who has been the constituency’s MP for 13 years said: “I was personally involved in a 5 year campaign to get the Government to introduce new legislation on HMOs. I have fought long and hard to make sure that Local Authorities have the opportunity to consider the effects on communities before they grant permission for family homes to be turned into shared houses. Many areas of Southampton experience problems with parking, overflowing rubbish bins, noise pollution and other problems associated with poorly maintained HMOs.”

Southampton Itchen Labour Candidate John Denham, who has represented the city since 1992, added: “Unregulated landlords are also bad for people who live in shared houses as they are often expected to live in dilapidated houses ill-suited for shared living. These examples of absentee landlords reflect badly on the majority of landlords who maintain their properties well.”

“This is an incredible and devious misuse of the Parliamentary process, apparently at the behest of the National Landlord’s Association. David Cameron has personally signalled that he is against a measure that will be of immense benefit to the city. He is showing his true colours at last – doing favours for the National Landlords Association rather than listening to residents’ concerns.”

Jerry Gillen, Chair of the Highfield Residents’ Association commented: “As co-ordinator and member of both the local and national HMO lobbies, I am outraged at David Cameron and signatories of this EDM. The change to the Use Class Order has been overwhelmingly supported by thousands of residents in Southampton and tens of thousands nationally in areas blighted by the unregulated use of HMOs.

“We have worked in good faith with all parties to secure these protections to family homes. For David Cameron and the National Landlords Federation to betray us through the use such an obscure Parliamentary motion is incredibly disappointing.”

Dr Alan Whitehead issued a challenge to Southampton Test Conservative Candidate Jeremy Moulton.

“I have sent a letter to Jeremy Moulton, Conservative Candidate for Southampton Test – who previously claimed he supported the legislation – to ask for an urgent explanation of the motivation behind this disgraceful action. Jeremy Moulton should apologise for misleading voters – he first opposed the new measures and then cynically claimed he supported them all while his own party leader was planning to speak out against them. He must have known of this, and he should apologise immediately.”

Other news from Southampton Labour

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• Southampton Labour MPs urge constituents to claim free heating and insulation help - 1 February 2012
• Welfare changes hit poorest areas in Southampton hardest - 1 February 2012