News / Politics
Bristol West MP slams government’s response to cladding scandal
A Bristol MP has highlighted the plight of hundreds of thousands of people who can’t sleep at night because their homes are unsafe.
Thangam Debbonaire slammed the government’s slow response to the cladding scandal in the wake of the Grenfell fire three and a half years ago, saying ministers have betrayed their promise that leaseholders wouldn’t pay for the building safety crisis.
On Wednesday, housing secretary Robert Jenrick announced a £3.5bn fund to fix dangerous cladding on high rise buildings in England over 18 metres in height – or above six storeys – at “no cost or low cost to leaseholders”, while loans will be available for residents in shorter properties.
is needed now More than ever
He has called it the “largest ever government investment in building safety”.
But Debbonaire, the shadow secretary of state for housing, argues the action comes too late for too many and says the 18-metre height limit is arbitrary and will mean the difference between a safe home and financial ruin.
“The Government has betrayed their promise that leaseholders wouldn’t pay for the building safety crisis,” said Debbonaire.
“Three and a half years on from Grenfell, hundreds of thousands can’t sleep at night because their homes are unsafe.
“The government has chosen to pile financial ruin on them. This is an injustice.”
People turned out in Bristol in 2018 to demand justice for those affected by the Grenfell fire – photo by Ellie Pipe
The MP, in partnership with Bristol City Council, is hosting an online public meeting for residents affected by the national cladding scandal on February 19.
She added: “Everyone should be safe in their home. For many leaseholders, the dream of home ownership has become a nightmare. They feel abandoned, locked down in flammable homes and facing ruinous costs for repair work and interim safety measures.
“Nearly four years on from the Grenfell tragedy hundreds of thousands of people nationwide are in this situation. Some in Bristol are facing bills of upwards of £40,000 each or more and neither leaseholders nor taxpayers should be left to carry the can”.
Nicola Beech, the council’s cabinet member for planning, has pledged to continue supporting residents and lobbying the government to ensure leaseholders are not left footing the bill for unsafe cladding.
“Coming up to four years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it could not be clearer that remaining cladding issues still need to be fixed,” said Beech.
People can attend the public meeting via Zoom https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYkdemoqjMqHN1Xs4pEMKWJI2gRUYlcmqPR.
Main photo by Ellie Pipe
Read more: ‘End the cladding scandal once and for all’
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