I’ll get rough sleepers off the streets
LABOUR LEADER VOWS TO SOLVE ISSUE IN MANCHESTER BY 2020
JEREMY Corbyn promised to end rough sleeping by 2020 as he made a flying visit to Manchester.
The Labour leader was speaking to the M.E.N. after he met with party activists in the city centre. Mr Corbyn said he backed his party’s mayoral candidate Andy Burnham, who has also pledged the same in Greater Manchester as part of his campaign.
And Mr Corbyn said he wanted the same for the whole country.
It comes after the M.E.N. laid bare how Spice, also known as synthetic cannabis, has affected the city’s homeless community and taken its toll on the emergency services.
Mr Corbyn told the M.E.N: “Homelessness is a disgrace and an outrage. In the 21st century, in the sixth richest country on the world, that thousands of people sleep on the streets every night is appalling.
“I’ve been talking to Andy Burnham about this in his mayoral campaign. I had a long discussion with him on Wednesday about this. He has a strategy and is absolutely determined to end rough sleeping homelessness by 2020. I want to do the same across the whole country. It means providing more housing, more hostel accommodation and move on accommodation.
“But above all, it means looking at the housing crisis that affects so many.
“There are people sleeping rough who are obviously in a very difficult situation, but there are also many living in very insecure, often very expensive private rented accommodation, where they have to move every six months or a year, and the children’s chances in education are severely damaged. I want security in housing for all.”
He also told the M.E.N. that a decision on the future of Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk is expected next week.
Mr Danczuk was suspended by the Labour Party in 2015 after allegations that he sent explicit messages to a 17-year-old girl. He currently serves as an independent MP.
Asked about Mr Danczuk’s future, Mr Corbyn said: “It’s a matter for the National Executive Committee and they’ll decide that next week.”
Mr Corbyn said Greater Manchester will be a key battleground during the General Election campaign.
Theresa May launched the Conservatives’ campaign at a church hall in the Bolton North East constituency where Sir David Crausby serves as Labour’s MP. The Conservatives are thought to be targeting seats such as Sir David’s in the region, where Labour have majorities of less than 5,000. Mr Corbyn said: “It’s obviously very important, as indeed all parts of the country area. It’s an area where there are a lot of Labour MPs, there are constituencies that will be challenging to win.”
Outlining his pledges to voters in Greater Manchester, he said Labour would deliver a £10 an hour living wage, and more funding for carers and schools. He added: “But above all, economic opportunities and support for small businesses, so that our economy can continue to grow. Crucially, big investment so we can get the new railway from the north east to the north West, so we have a better railway system.”