Labour leadership show support for march against Tory housing reforms

The Labour leadership has appeared to back this weekend’s demonstration against the Tory Housing Bill, which has the support of several major trade unions.

Thousands are expected to join the march on Parliament this Sunday, and although Corbyn cannot attend and McDonnell is yet to confirm, both have intimated their support for the demonstration.

The leadership duo have appeared at a number of protests since Corbyn’s victory in September, including some, such as the anti-Trident, anti-tuition fee and junior doctors’ picket line demos, that have not been in line with party policy.

The housing demonstration, organised by the Kill the Housing Bill campaign, is not at odds with any Labour Party position, and is supported by Momentum, GMB, Communication Workers Union (CWU), Bakers Union (BFAWU) and Unite. John McDonnell has made clear that Labour “is opposing it [the bill] in Parliament” but will also show opposition “outside Parliament” by supporting the protest.

At the first meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party following the leadership election last year, Corbyn told MPs that housing was going to be one of his priority issues as leader.

In a statement, the Labour leader said that “Housing should be a source of security, but for too many people in Britain it is a source of anxiety. There is a housing crisis in this country and it is growing under this government.”

McDonnell said: “People are desperate for a stable and decent home they can actually afford to live in but the Tories Housing Bill will make the housing crisis drastically worse. Labour is opposing it in Parliament but I’m also opposing it outside Parliament by supporting the Kill the Housing Bill demonstration on the 13th March.”

He added: “Millions of people across the country are struggling to afford to rent or buy a home but the Government is callous in its disregard for people’s right to secure themselves the right to a decent home. This bill demonstrates the worst attack on social housing provision seen in decades.

“It will result in more genuinely affordable social housing units being sold off which is scandalous when we have such a severe housing crisis on our hands. Under this Tory Government homelessness is already sharply on the rise and thousands are being socially cleansed from our cities.”

UPDATE: An earlier version of this story stated that Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell would be attending the demo. Corbyn is unable to attend, and McDonnell has yet to confirm his attendance, but will appear on the Andrew Marr Show that morning.