Andrew Dismore

New research commissioned by Labour from the House of Commons Library has revealed a staggering 71% increase in the number of working people claiming housing benefit in Barnet compared with 2010.  11,374 Barnet  working families are now reliant on Housing Benefit

The huge increase in people who are in work claiming Housing Benefit is the result of the Conservative Government’s failure to make work pay, tackle the cost-of-living crisis and build the new homes for rent we desperately need.

Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly member and parliamentary candidate for Hendon said:

“These shocking figures are an indictment of the Conservative Government and Barnet’s Conservative MPs.

“This huge rise in Housing Benefit  claimants  represent  people who are actually in work, yet still can’t make ends meet. It shows how the recovery is not touching thousands of ordinary Barnet  families.

“Their wages have not kept pace with rent inflation and many of the new jobs, especially those with “zero hours” contracts  do not pay enough for people to meet their  bills.

“The failure  to provide affordable homes for rent has added to the problem with rents skyrocketing in Barnet. 

“There is a massive amount of development  going on, but sales “off plan” on the open market at crazy prices, as encouraged by this Conservative  Council do nothing to help our local housing shortage.

“We need a Labour Government, committed to reasonable rent controls, security of tenure and to the building of the homes we need, to deal with this

shocking Conservative created mess.”