Labour group under fire over Coventry homelessness motion

[dutchman]

Opposition group slams 'disingenuous' motion as a 'farce' and 'hypocritical'


[Stock image]

Extra money to help tackle homelessness has been welcomed by Coventry City Council although a motion proposed by the cabinet member for housing and communities was dubbed disingenuous and a farce by the opposition Tory group. The ruling Labour group were also called hypocrites.

Cllr Naseem Akhtar proposed: “This council welcomes the Labour Government’s announcement of an £84m investment to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this winter. It is a clear sign of renewed national leadership and a commitment to rebuilding vital public services after years of cuts and underfunding.

“This funding will help local authorities strengthen their resources, improve prevention services, and provide better support to rough sleepers and those at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Council further recognises that this investment represents an important step toward reversing the damage caused by the previous Government’s policies, which contributed to rising homelessness and rough sleeping across the country.”

But Cllr Julia Lepoidevin and her Conservative colleague Cllr Peter Male rounded on the Labour proposal. Cllr Lepoidevin said: “When I heard the words ‘renewed national leadership’ under this current government, I felt this was disingenuous and, quite frankly, a farce.

"In the two budgets that the Labour party have produced, they have shown their utter incompetence by taxing working people, making it harder for business to employ staff and all to support benefit Britain with hard-workers footing the bill.”

And Cllr Male added: “I simply cannot believe the hypocrisy of the Labour members opposite. Whilst additional funding to tackle homelessness is always welcome, it must be considered against the greater harm that the Labour government is inflicting upon the people of this country.

“I understand that Coventry will receive around £600,000 from the £84m allocated to tackle homelessness – an amount significantly lower than for comparable cities. £84m is a sticking plaster for the issue that is being exacerbated by the incoherent policies coming from this hapless government.”

There was support from the Labour benches with a number of councillors speaking in favour of the money coming Coventry’s way. Cllr Mal Mutton said: “As we move into Christmas and the winter, our thoughts should actually be with those less fortunate than ourselves. Society is judged on how it treats its most vulnerable citizens and surely rough sleepers and the homeless come within that category. I welcome this and I think that we should all, at this time of year, support this motion.”

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/labour-group-under-fire-over-33018877