Pressure mounts on PM as big names back our campaign
POLITICIANS, industry experts and desperate leaseholders last night united behind the Mail’s campaign to fix Britain’s dangerous buildings and save the property market.
They implored ministers to act swiftly to support four million Britons who are stuck in fire traps and can’t sell their homes. Many face bankruptcy as they are lumped with average bills of £40,000 to pay for repairs.
The Mail is urging ministers to fix the crisis by June 2022 and spare leaseholders the crippling financial burdens.
Our campaign is now being backed by MPs of all parties, including more than a dozen Tory backbenchers. Their support will pile pressure on housing secretary Robert Jenrick and housing minister Chris Pincher to step in to end the scandal.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘ The Grenfell Tower fire should have been the tragic wake-up call ministers needed to improve building safety.
‘Instead, nearly three and a half years on, thousands of Londoners continue to live in unsafe accommodation, facing stress, uncertainty and fear as building owners drag their feet and the Government fails to take responsibility. I fully support the Mail’s campaign to stop flat- owners paying the price for the Government’s inaction.’
Former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell said it was ‘unacceptable’ that leaseholders were being made to foot the bill. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey congratulated the Mail for ‘its important work to highlight the terrible injustice of people stuck in fire-trap homes’.
Caroline Nokes, one of 16 Tory MPs who have signed an amendment to the Government’s Fire Safety Bill in a bid to protect leaseholders from paying for repairs, said: ‘The Daily Mail is doing a phenomenal job highlighting the issue and making sure it stays at the top of the housing minister’s agenda.
‘For far too many, their first step on to the property ladder has been a disaster, and they are left with a worthless flat, unable to move and too scared to sleep there at night.’
Tory MP John Baron, another signatory, said: ‘It is unacceptable that leaseholders are being required to cover the costs of mistakes that they have not made. Many are unable to afford the high costs of remedial works, and are living in flats which are unmortgageable, unsaleable and potentially at risk of fire.
‘ Conservatives believe in a property-owning democracy, and the Government ought to step in to resolve this situation. I welcome the Daily Mail’s campaign and meanwhile look forward to the return of the Fire Safety Bill to the Commons in due course.’
The growing number of Tory backbenchers supporting the cause means Boris Johnson faces a significant rebellion when legislation returns to Parliament, possibly by the end of the month. The Prime Minister’s hand may be forced if opposition MPs also back the amendment.
Labour’s housing spokesman Thangam Debbonaire said: ‘This crisis has already had knock-on effects across the entire housing market. Without urgent action, even more families will be stuck in limbo.’
A Government source said: ‘We recognise the importance of the Mail’s campaign, and it is a top priority for this Government to remove unsafe materials at pace – backed by £1.6 billion funding.’
He added that a range of funding options were being considered and that work was complete or under way on ‘the vast majority’ of high-rise blocks with Grenfell-style cladding