Cllr Ravi Govindia, the Leader of Wandsworth Council, which used to set a zero Poll Tax offer this tribute to Lady Thatcher
Wandsworth was always Margaret Thatcher’s favourite borough. We had a lot in common – like the Iron Lady herself our council in the early 1980s was something of an outsider.
We were a Conservative administration operating in traditional inner city Labour territory. If we were to be more than a one-term wonder we needed to find a way of connecting with residents from all walks of life.
Margaret’s genius was her intuitive understanding of what really motivated hard-working people. They did not want hand-outs or suffocating state socialism – they just wanted the chance to create a better life – for themselves and their family.
Wandsworth Council has become the first to issue an eviction order due to the recent rioting, which has happened across London and much of the country. The eviction notice will be issued to a council tenant in the borough, due to their son’s involvement the disturbances in Clapham junction on Monday night. This is the first case of a council tenant being ordered to leave social housing, as a result of the recent looting and rioting.
Earlier today, the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, on BBC News, said he had spoken to all the leaders of councils where looting and rioting had taken place, and they, he said, “were very supportive of it.” Pickles continued that those facing eviction due to their involvement in antisocial behaviour were to be “deemed that they’ve wilfully made themselves homeless” and that there would be “no duty to provide a home under this basis”. He also said that he did not think that those who have broken the law in riots over the past few days “should be in the way of a law abiding citizen who could probably use that house in a much better way.”
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