Hodge gave ‘grist to the mill’ of BNP
Margaret Hodge has been criticised by a cabinet colleague for adopting the “language of the BNP” for her comments on immigrants and housing.
Education secretary and deputy leadership candidate Alan Johnson said Ms Hodge’s comments had been “grist to the mill of the BNP”.
He also said he fundamentally disagreed with Ms Hodge’s assumption British families have a “legitimate sense of entitlement” to social housing.
Speaking on BBC’s Question Time he said: “The problem with that is that’s the kind of language of the BNP, and it’s grist to the mill of the BNP, particularly as there is no evidence that there’s any problem in social housing caused by immigration, none whatsoever.”
Mr Johnson said only one per cent of social housing is occupied by foreign nationals and there is no evidence immigrants are prioritised.
The real cause of waiting lists is the lack of affordable housing, he argued.
Trade and industry minister Margaret Hodge provoked criticisms this week when she claimed British families have a “legitimate sense of entitlement” to social housing.
Her comments were deemed irresponsible by some for perpetuating the rhetoric of the BNP, who are an increasing force at local elections in her Barking constituency.
Barking and Dagenham council have criticised their own MP’s comments, saying Ms Hodge’s claims are “nonsense”.
Councillor Liam Smith, deputy leader of the council, said: “It is not fair for her to play one group of people off against another. Margaret Hodge is missing the point. The problem is clear, there are not enough council houses to meet the demand.
“We have been extremely active here in Barking and Dagenham in lobbying the government to build more council houses and we need them to take action now.”
His comments echo those of the mayor of London Ken Livingston, who said Ms Hodge was simply wrong, and should focus on solving the housing crisis not scapegoating communities.
Mr Livingstone said: “Far from it being the case that immigrants are jumping the housing queue, the opposite is true, with immigrants naturally finding it very much harder to find their way round a system with which they are not familiar.”
London Council’s Executive member for housing councillor Jamie Carswell has warned London needs more social housing.
The current lack of affordable homes and high house prices are creating a housing crisis, he argued.
There are currently 457,000 council homes and 319,000 housing association homes in London, with 331,000 people on waiting lists.
