Housing Abuse (August 19th, commonsenseengland.wordpress) Reports of lottery winners and other wealthy people living in state-subsidised housing have at last encouraged the Government to pass legislation to prevent it from happening in the future. It is now proposed that all prospective tenants will be means tested so that if they earn more than £60,000 a year they will either have to leave their council-owned and housing association properties or pay the full market rent. Whilst this is no more than common sense isn’t it crazy that it was allowed to happen in the first place? Why should the taxpayer subsidise people who have the means to pay for their own accommodation? Particularly whilst others, with a genuine need of state assistance, remain on seemingly never-ending waiting lists. Those found guilty of abusing the system can have no complaint if they are named and shamed by national newspapers. The Sunday Times, recently revealed that Bob Crow (proud communist and General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) lives in a subsidised home in North East London despite the fact that he earns £90,000 per annum (nearly four times the national average) and Frank Dobson, former Labour Health Secretary lives in a council flat despite his MP’s annual salary of £66,000. Sadly, we are now used to politicians of all parties fiddling expenses and screwing the system but it particularly grates when we are told of champagne socialists ripping us off whilst proclaiming equal rights for all. Perhaps they need to be reminded that the welfare state exists to help and assist those in genuine need of assistance - not to make fat cats fatter still. It’s fortunate, to say the least, that we still have a free press able and willing to expose such iniquities and bring these public figures to account.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:14:08 +0000
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