Combat Racism by tackling shortage of affordable housing

Stop the House Crusher Programme -

Letter from Cllr Steve Radford

Leader of The Liberal Party Group

41 Sutton Street

Tuebrook

Liverpool

L13 7EG

0151259 5935

 Mobile 07920090322

 Dear Editor

 Recent letters concerning he vote for far right parties call for the symptoms to be tackled rather than going to the root of the problem

 Without doubt the shortage of affordable housing has too often given rise to racist attitudes and support for neo-fascist parties

 The burning resentment in Norris Green at the way the Boot estate  was fragmented and mislead by the council has no doubt given ample fuel to the far right preaching contempt for the democratic parties.

  6 years after the decanting of the Boot estate began not one single new home for rent has been built and handed over to the Boot tenants who have been dispersed throughout the city

 This problem is compounded when the “Demolition Coalition” of Lib Dems and Labour in Liverpool have embarked on a policy of blighting working class terraced areas of the city, emptying council and housing association homes there, then forcing remaining owner occupiers out by CPO. This policy results in the supply of affordable housing being reduced and thousands being added to the growing waiting lists

 In Liverpool the combined Council Housing and Housing association waiting lists have already exploded from 13,500 a few years ago to now 21,000. Over the next three years another 5,000 will be added to the waiting lists as a consequence of the demolition and clearance programme known as “Pathfinder”. It would be more aptly named “House Crusher Programme”

 If we are serious about undermining the far right, we must reverse these disastrous housing policies which reduce the supply of affordable housing and brake up communities. We should starve the Far Right of the oxygen of resentment and grievances their policies of hatred require

 Cllr Steve Radford

Leader - Liverpool City Council Liberal Party Group