PM asked about London families rehoused in city Councils in capital moving homeless families to Birmingham

PRIME Minister Theresa May has been challenged to explain why a London council told a homeless family they had to move to a property in Birmingham.

A London MP said a mother and her young child were told there was no housing for them in the capital - and were told to move to Birmingham, 140 miles away.

It follows warnings from Birmingham City Council that it is having to move local homeless families out of the city because there is nowhere for them to live here. And at the same, the council said at least 130 homeless individuals or families had been moved to Birmingham by London councils.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, told the Prime Minister a constituent asked Merton council in London for help after she and her young daughter became homeless.

Ms McDonagh said: “After months of looking for a flat she finally went to Merton council, who told her they could only offer her temporary accommodation in Birmingham, 140 miles away from her job, from her daughter’s school and from the friends and family who make it possible for her to be a working single mum.” But, she said, “Russian oligarchs and Chinese banks own scores of property and leave them empty” in London.

Mrs May told her: “Overall the Government is dealing with the issue of homelessness. We are ensuring that we are building more homes, we are giving more support for people to get into their own homes.”

A Birmingham Council official last year told MPs families moved in to the city by London councils were placing a strain on local services.

Jim Crawshaw, head of homeless and pre-tenancy Services at Birmingham City Council, told MPs Birmingham had been officially notified about 130 London families who were moved to the city.

But the true figure might be higher because London councils might not always inform Birmingham, he said.

He revealed Birmingham City Council was worried the arrival of London families was pushing up rents because they are found housing in the private rented sector by London councils who may be offering landlords more than the going rate. Mr Crawshaw was speaking to the Commons Local Government Committee.