Andrew Dismore

Andrew Dismore, Labour parliamentary candidate for Hendon and London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden yesterday challenged Mayor Johnson over his poor record on street homeless. (https://vimeo.com/120485732)

Mr Dismore told the Mayor that the amount he allocated to rough sleeping initiatives had flat lined at £8.45 million for the whole of London and was set to stay that way into the future

Mr Dismore said:

‘While the amount you allocate to rough sleeping hasn’t changed, the number of rough sleepers has more than doubled while you have been Mayor, to 6,508, from 2,807. There was an increase of 13% last year alone.

‘We even have now 103 people sleeping rough at Heathrow Airport, double last year’s figure.

‘Did you know this, or did you step over them on your way to the check in desk or VIP lounge on your way to one of your 5 overseas jaunts in the last 4 months?’

The Mayor argued that the increased was down to foreigners coming to London, but the official figures show that the greatest number of rough sleepers are of UK origin.

After the debate, Mr Dismore added:

‘The Mayor may talk about the need to help rough sleepers, but he is not doing nearly enough. If he spent more time in London  and less jetting off on his many overseas visits, or going round the UK promoting the Conservative Party and his leadership chances , he might be more aware of the problems that are on his own doorstep; the tragedy that is rough sleeping in  our capital today.’