A controversial plan to force potential social housing tenants to look for work is being considered by the government.
Housing minister Caroline Flint argues that new applicants for social housing should sign a sort of “commitment contract” pledging to seek employment. If they refuse, they could be denied that opportunity to get on the local housing register.
I’ve got one word on this– bullshit!
This is yet another one of the governement’s wheezes aimed at taking attention away from their self-inflicted problems, but in this case they’ve created a new monumental one. If anybody is unfortunate to live in a highly deprived part of the country where there aren’t any proper jobs (does employment with the local council count?), should they be forced into doing what little is there on offer? Would such a highly repressive and destructive policy lead to an increase in homelessness, poverty, and inevitably, crime?
To many people (not me) they are simply shocked that such a policy is being considered by a Labour government. One councillor, from Liverpool, was so shocked and angry he wrote this letter to the Guardian which was published today (scroll down).
If the government doesn’t want to lose what’s left of their working class vote in this country, they should (politely) strangle this plan…. at birth.