Corbyn's Positive Measures Blanked By Labour's Right

A standing ovation greeted Jeremy Corbin’s pledges on housing at Labour’s conference: to stop ‘social cleansing’ regeneration schemes and give residents a vote on regeneration proposals; to build more council homes and to control rents.

- Paul Kershaw

That response was echoed outside the conference. In the past Labour had little to offer on housing for workers and young people; the idea that Labour could really change things has been electrifying.

But Labour is still two parties in one and right-wing Labour councils are pressing ahead with destructive and unpopular regeneration schemes. The Labour council in Haringey, north London, responded to the housing resolution from Tottenham Labour Party - in its own area and adopted by conference with no opposition - by rejecting it outright!

It argued that balloting people affected ‘oversimplified’ the issues. Labour’s leadership must ensure that democratic decisions are carried out and the threat to homes across Haringey is lifted (see 'Hundreds march against Labour council's development plan' at socialistparty.org.uk). It would be a scandal if the pro-austerity Liberal Democrats, who have opportunistically opposed the Haringey regeneration plan, were to make electoral gains because of the Blairite-led council.