Le Blond comments were embarrassing

In her column last week, Councillor Ann Le Blond wrote that “homelessness shames our society” and that, when it comes to tackling homelessness, the aim should be “promoting those who have needed help into helping others”.

Cllr Le Blond’s column was an embarrassment, and an insult to anyone who has experienced homelessness.

As the fifth largest economy in the world, we should not have the problems of homelessness and poverty that have become part of daily life in Britain for so many.

The Tories have relentlessly implemented their austerity plans; attacking benefits and benefit claimants, enforcing harsh sanctions regimes on those who can least afford it, they have closed job centres and have undermined state pensions.

In short, they have done everything possible to trap people in what Cllr Le Blond calls “challenging situations”, and is leaving it to charities to throw people a lifeline.

Cllr Le Blond praises homeless charities – as do I – and she says that politicians do not know best how to support those in “challenging situations”.

What politicians can do, however – specifically successive Tory governments – is ensure that social safety nets are not cut away from the most vulnerable.

Cllr Le Blond offers no hope to those who are homeless when she says that the solution is to allow homeless people to talk with each other.

They have already spoken, and we all know the root cause of the problem: austerity.

If only Cllr Le Blond would focus on not forcing people off of benefits and onto the streets then we would need fewer sticking plasters to help those without a roof over their head. Clare Haughey MSP for Rutherglen and Cambuslang