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London housing segregation and the power of ‘legitimised self oppression’ of the poor by ‘selfish leadership’….reclaim London!
With the UK Government admitting that twenty seven tower blocks in fifteen local authorities have failed cladding fire safety tests commissioned by the UK government we all need to start awakening to some fears that are generally rising amongst the poor.
The main question being why if all along, people were allowed to live there, have the towers suddenly become unsafe or inhabitable. Why was there no proper arrangement for evacuation and housing put in place so that residents would receive a talking through the process, be given adequate warning and provided with all the necessary information and access to required facilities for those in need such as the disabled, elderly, sick, those with visitors and those with pets amongst many more needs.
This follows the horrendous fire that destroyed Grenfell towers, one of the poorest communities in one of the richest places on earth, ‘Kensington and Chelsea’. Media reports point at the Grenfell Towers fire as a manifestation of a neglect, demolition , dispossession and social cleansing by the rich and powerful in a market that has been unregulated and deregulated for a long time in the great social swindle of the public in UK
London was recently reported to have a growing trend of the ‘poor door’ in place. The ‘poor door’ is actually an entrance set aside in a housing development for those in affordable housing at expensive apartments.
Lows income apartments tend to have no dishwashers, no concierge services, no access to courtyards, gyms, pools and other luxuries in multi-million pound housing developments in London.
This element of segregation clear demarcates between well-off home owners and social tenants who are forced to access the buildings through separate entrances.
London’s upmarket development such as apartment blocks are by law required to include affordable housing for the poor before planning permission is granted.
The segregation brings back memories of my childhood in Africa when only whites were allowed on pavements while Blacks were forced to walk on the roads, use separate facilities such as toilets amongst others and here in the first world, in Britain one of the richest countries in the world its shocking to wake to the reality right before one’s eyes of different, postal, rubbish, and storage areas for the rich and poor in the same apartment.
This is absolute contempt and disregard for the ordinary street person and a wake up call for voters to elect leaders who put the people’s interests first and strive to ensure equal access to opportunities and prosperity for all rather than protecting the chosen few as British politics seems to incline towards.
We cannot ultimately blame the Torries for this discrepancy in housing but rather lay the blame fair and square on the people of London and total proof of ineptitude to make their voices heard through their vote. You have the power through your vote and we are where we are today because of the poor, uninformed choices and decisions we have made in the past and inadvertently co-authored our own destiny by empowering the oppression of the ordinary people through our misguided leadership choices.
We the people handed them through our votes on a platter, the mandates to lead us into the social housing disaster we are now faced with. Today its obvious to everyone that there is a need for the ordinary street people and public to rise up in defiance to ‘legitimised oppression’ of the poor by ‘selfish leaders’ .
Think not just about yourself, but your children and future descendants and the future of Britain. You have the power in you to make a positive change. Stability is of critical importance to all but we cannot wait for a leadership mandate to expire whilst everything is being run down and the ordinary person is suffering.
Pressure your local authorities, local MPs and government by using all channels available in mainstream and social media, televisions, radio, newspapers, pamphlets, posters and make your voice heard. Your vote is a right not a privilege so use it progressively to shake up the system and force desirable positive change in the system in order to guarantee a better future for all our children, any race, religion, political party, sexual orientation or other.
Decent, safe, affordable and welcoming shelter and housing are a right for all…..wake up UK! DISCUSS…By Sibusiso Ngwenya