Stockport Row spreads to Commons
February 24, 2003 12:00 AM
Stockport Council's ballot of tenants has stirred up a row down in Westminster. Rival groups of MPs have been adding their names to motions for and against the ballot, which could see tenants voting to change their landlord from the Council to a registered social landlord.
Local MPs Andrew Stunell and Patsy Calton have sprung to the defence of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the Council, after Denton and Reddish MP Andrew Bennett attacked the planned 'stock transfer', and tabled a motion in the Commons.
"It does seem extraordinary that Labour MPs should attack a flagship Labour policy by putting down a motion for debate in Parliament. Advisors from the Deputy Prime Minister's office have approved every step of the process in Stockport, and the Council has bent over backwards to make sure tenants know the full facts."
"I wouldn't normally come to John Prescott's rescue, but Mr Bennett's accusation is so far from reality I just couldn't let it go" says Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell."
"The housing transfer plan is only necessary because of government rules which stop the Council from getting a loan to carry out major repairs and upgrades to homes. The proposed 'registered social landlord' would be able to get the money - at no extra cost to tenants' rents. It would also mean that for the first time there were tenants' representatives on the management board taking key decisions about rents and repairs."
"Patsy Calton MP for Cheadle says:"
"Labour need to get their act together. Stock transfer has gone ahead across Greater Manchester in Labour-run councils like Tameside. Yet when a Liberal Democrat council sets about doing the same thing in good faith, their MPs start slagging off one of their own government's key policies."
"End"
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats