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Dr Ian Rowley |
‘Disown’ housing row boss
Labour on the attack over official’s ‘scrap secured tenancies’ article
THE council housing boss embroiled in a political row after admitting he would like to scrap secured tenancies is facing calls to stand down.
Dr Ian Rowley was just a week into his new post as deputy cabinet member for housing when it emerged he had written an article for influential right-wing thinktank Localis, supporting a raft of controversial measures including the sell-off of council housing, moving anti-social tenants out of Westminster and scrapping secure tenancies.
The storm shows no sign of blowing over for the man who has been dubbed “The Alan B’Stard of the 21st century”.
Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group at Westminster City Hall, has called on council leader Colin Barrow to “disown” his embattled colleague.
He is asking Mr Barrow whether he echoes Dr Rowley’s views on secured tenancies.
“Councillor Rowley has caused deep shock and concern to thousands of council and housing association residents all over Westminster,” said Cllr Dimoldenberg. “We need to know if his extreme views are shared by senior Conservative colleagues.
“If they are then there is a real cause for concern. If Cllr Rowley’s views are not shared by his colleagues then he should be sacked without further delay.
“There is no room for extremism in housing policy in Westminster. We had enough of that under Shirley Porter and no one in their right mind wants to go back to the bad old days of gerrymandering and homes for votes.”
Most ominously for the borough’s thousands of council tenants, Dr Rowley said housing priority should be measured by “behaviour and contribution to society” – which has been interpreted as a warning shot to those residents who are unemployed.
The council was quick to distance itself from the remarks made, which were made in a personal capacity, just weeks before Dr Rowley’s appointment. Both the council and Dr Rowley assured residents the remarks have no bearing on policy in Westminster.
Councillor Philippa Roe, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “The claims that have been made about Cllr Rowley’s comments are misleading and could cause unnecessary worry among tenants, which is irresponsible.
“Cllr Rowley is a valued member of my team and he has made it clear that his comments were made in a personal capacity.
“He fully explained his position last week making it clear that his views do not represent Westminster Council’s housing policy, which I set.
“For the avoidance of doubt, as a council, we strive to provide the best possible housing services to thousands of people across the city and certainly will not sell council housing or evict tenants regardless if their circumstances change for the worse or indeed for the better.
“We are continuing to work hard to provide affordable housing in the city to help those most in need and are due to start building work on Westminster’s largest council house-building programme imminently.” |
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