Islington MP in 'Affordable Houses for Cronies' Scandal (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Islington MP in 'Affordable Houses for Cronies' Scandal

October 5, 2007 4:59 PM

"Crusading" Labour MP Emily Thornberry and local Labour councillor James Murray have been accused of hypocrisy regarding their stand on affordable housing in Islington, as it has been revealed that Emily Thornberry's husband has bought up socially-rented housing and letting it out to one of Ms. Thornberry's staff, one of Islington's leading Labour councillors.

Labour MP Emily Thornberry likes to portray herself as a "crusader" for affordable housing. Along with the Labour opposition in Islington she has been running a campaign against the Lib Dem council's selling off of council properties to developers and private landlords to fund regeneration schemes. Councillor Barbara Sidnell, the Labour Group housing spokesperson, recently commented that the, "obsession with selling off public assets is damaging our community."

It has transpired, however, that Emily Thornberry has been growing fat on the profits of exactly the schemes she and her colleagues have been publicly condemning. Her husband, barrister Christopher Nugee, recently purchased a property at 6 Rawstorne Street (EC1V 7NH) that was previously used to provide socially rented housing by a local Housing Association.

The flat is currently being let to Cllr James Murray, leading Islington Labour Councillor, who is also an employee of Ms. Thornberry's parliamentary office.

Councillor Terry Stacy has recently written to the Housing Association concerned asking for an explanation of the reasons for the sell and a full investigation into allegations made on the Internet regarding the background to the purchase.

Councillor Terry Stacy commented:

"Emily Thornberry has tried to make a name for herself by opposing Islington's policies on affordable housing, including the sale of street properties, all the while growing fat on the profits of property sales. This is nothing less than two-faced, and shows outright hypocrisy."

"This 'affordable home' has been turned by Emily Thornberry into an affordable home for her Labour Councillor cronies! Labour have proved that they'll say literally anything, while looking out for their own best interests.

"There's nothing legally wrong with what Ms. Thornberry and her husband have done. The council, and a number of housing associations, have sold off houses if the costs of repair would be prohibitive, with all the proceeds going back into rebuilding and regeneration. But it is a bit rich for both her and Labour councillors lecturing us on this whilst benefiting from such a policy."