Labours Slap in the face to Leaseholders

1.55.11am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 14th Apr 2007

Despite promises made my Islington South & Finsbury Labour MP Emily Thornberry the Labour government has rejected pleas from Liberal Democrat Controlled Islington Council and Islington leaseholders to cap all major works bills.

Under the current system only leaseholders in properties being renovated by PFI have their bills capped. If the council capped other bills it would have to take the money out of the Housing Revenue Account.

This system means that some Islington Leaseholders are left with much larger bills for works unless the council decides to take money away from council tenants. Lib Dems have asked the government for new legislation to allow them to cap bills without taking money away from services for council tenants who are some of the most deprived residents in the borough.

The Governments own Social Sector Working Party, set up specifically to look at the problem of leaseholder bills, has also recommended a universal cap.

During the 2005 General Election Emily Thornberry said "I will do everything I can to get these charges 'capped'" but it seems the Labour MP failed to have any impact on her government on the issue. This week the Government rejected the idea of a cap for leaseholders.

Councillor Terry Stacy, Deputy Leader of the Council said "This is a real slap in the face for Islington leaseholders, despite promises by the Labour MP, the government has ignored the concerns raised by us and local leaseholders, it's even ignored it's own committee on the subject. This just confirms that Ms Thornberry is all month and no action, and Islington has been yet again been let down by Labour"

Owen Hart, from Islington Leaseholder Action Group, said "Islington's 11,000 leaseholders have been betrayed by this government. It has saddled us with bills of £30,000 and £40,000. Our MP Emily Thornberry can have no excuses. She will pay with her seat at the next election. So will Labour councillors."