Birmingham University Labour Students

I’m sure you are all aware of the proposed housing benefit cap proposed under the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). Labour officials were quick to criticise the policy as a ‘cleansing’ of the poor from the cities, much to the outrage of the Coalition. But, it seems we are not the only ones saying these borderline truths, London’s Mayor, Conservative Boris Johnson, today said he will not accept “Kosovo-style social cleansing” of the capital due to the cap in housing benefits.

Firstly, this is taking a step further than Labour did in its description, but it shows that those in charge of the actual cities will see the true mantra and devastation this will cause. London Councils estimates 82,000 families could be made homeless. 82,000 families(!), not people, families. And that’s not including, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and many more cities. Now credit where credit is due, (even though I do want Ken back as Mayor) I totally agree with Johnson on this issue. You know when these plans are heartless and a part of a ‘cleansing’ programme when even the the Tory’s own London Mayor opposes them.

Boris Johnson is in front of the Transport select committee.  He is asked about the preparations he made for the predicted heavy snow that fell on  February 2nd of this year, before the morning it actually happened.  The snow caused severe disruptions to London’s public transport system and I summise said committee is investigating whether that could have been prevented, et al.  This clip makes me question him in a lot of ways, but you can decide for yourselves here.

I’ve also discovered a Dispatches episode that examines Boris’ term so far as London Mayor, as the anniversary of his first year in this office approaches.  I’ve not yet watched it, but it’ll probably be quite interesting.  Here it is.