Sarah To Host Commons Housing Conference For Local People

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jul 2008

Local MP Sarah is campaigning for better homes for Brent

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather will next week host a housing conference for local people in the House of Commons.

Brent has one of the worst problems with housing in the country. Sarah decided to hold the commons meeting after being approached by constituents from the Somali community who wanted to send a message to the Labour Government about their chronic living conditions.

Constituents will be invited to describe their housing problems to camera, and the video will then be sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Housing. Speakers joining Sarah at the event will include Paul Lorber, Leader of Brent Council, Philip Mutio, Director of Brent homeless families charity New Beginnings, and Isabel de-la-Cour from housing charity Shelter.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Brent has one of the worst housing problems in the whole country. So many of my most vulnerable constituents have simply been abandoned by the Government, with little hope of ever having a permanent place to call home.

"I have spoken about this many times in the House of Commons, but my voice is so much more powerful when it is joined with the voices of others from Brent. We will send our video to the Government so they can hear about the devastating effect of their housing policies first hand from those that are effected.

"Poor housing effects a child's health, education and life chances. This meeting is about sending a clear signal to Gordon Brown and his housing ministers that it is time to start taking this issue seriously."