Tower Hamlets Council benefit cuts: strange goings on at the "East London Advertiser"

Tower Hamletsfights benefits cutsthat will ‘cleanse out’poor families

Mike BrookeThursday, April 14, 2011
3:01 PM

EAST London Advertiser has REMOVED 'news' item about benefits cuts from its web site.
AADHIKARonline EXCLUSIVE report

1415 Hrs GMT

London

Monday

18 April 2011

Tower Hamlets Council benefit cuts: strange goings on at the "East London Advertiser"

This item, which we have just about managed to salvage from the Google “crache” directory this afternoon, has been removed from the website of the “East London Advertiser”.
This is very strange
We are continuing to investigate and will publish findings and updates here.

A lobby against the government’s housing benefits cuts which are feared could ‘cleanse’ poor families out of inner city areas is being

launched by TowerHamlets council in London’s deprived East End.

• Your view
• Email
• Print
• Got a story?

The cuts which came in on April 1 include scrapping the increased allowance for five-bed properties, now capped at £20,000 a year.

“These measures are a deliberate attempt at social engineering,” cabinet member Rania Khan told last night’s council meeting.

“They will increase overcrowding which is the cause of severe health problems and lack of children’s educational achievement.”

She poured scorn on the Prime Minister banking on landlords lowering charges to reflect the cuts.

“It is almost impossible as the government suggests that landlords will reduce rents in areas with high house values,” Cllr Khan added.

“The government has left us to make a terrible decision—forcing people to live beyond their budget or in overcrowded conditions.”

Tower Hamlets has one of London’s worst housing problems, councillors were told, with 9,000 overcrowded households and 23,000 families on the waiting list.

Labour’s Marc Francis said: “The government’s pernicious policy is putting familieson the rack. It’s a political decision to move working people out of inner London.”

Opposition Tory Tim Archer insisted the Government’s £20,000 cap was “more than enough to house any family” which would be earning £60,000 if they paid that rent privately.

But the council voted to condemn the cuts as “discriminatory” and is to lobby against them.