The war on squatters
Spotter | 06.11.2011 20:59 | Analysis | Free Spaces | Social Struggles | South Coast | World
What we are seeing is a well-orchestrated clampdown on alternative culture. Again. By the Tories. Again.
We need to keep our eyes peeled.
We need to keep our eyes peeled.
When the amendment to the legal aid bill regarding squatting was announced, Mike Weatherley said “Today is a good day for everyone except the anarchists” on BBC Radio Sussex. He is MP for Hove, also a (wannabe?) member of the rich elite, the 1%, for which every day probably is a good day, thank you very much.
He thought it was a good day because the amendment will criminalise squatting in residential buildings. Despite regulations already being in place to protect intending occupiers and displaced residents, people like Weatherley want to protect the holy law of property rights. I wonder how many houses Weatherley himself has.
Just like with reform of the drug laws, it seems like property law has to get worse before it gets better. It’s obvious that squatting is going to be criminalised, because that is what those in power want. Ken Clarke made a speech saying he was going to criminalise squatting the day before the consultation on squatting ended. Not the day after but the day before. The fact that the huge majority of those consulted thought there was no need for consultation was conveniently overlooked.
A letter to the Guardian from 158 academics, lawyers and solicitors working in housing law stated that the debate was not being helped by Members of Parliament giving incorrect statements in the media. What is interesting is to analyse the response of some of those MPs. Mike Weatherley said “the self-proclaimed experts who signed the letter, sheep-like, have a huge vested interest when it comes to fees after all,” as if everyone behaved like speculators.
Grant Schapps was even better. He tweeted that the people who signed the letter, who we can genuinely call experts in their professional field, were “sadly out of touch.”
Then he commented in the Guardian that “The guidance I published earlier this year makes clear to homeowners where the law stands on squatters, however commonsense suggests there should be quick and tough sanctions available when someone’s home is squatted, without the homeowner necessarily needing to bring a civil case.” Despite the clear fact that there are already legal measures in place to protect owner occupiers (as already mentioned), Schapps chooses to keep on perpetuating the same soundbite as Mike Weatherley. He was challenged on Twitter by some of the writers of the letter, those sadly out of touch, self-proclaimed experts and naturally did not deign to reply. There was no other way to answer.
It is clear that a united front is being presented here. The facts may not stand up to to scrutiny, but doesn’t really matter. The Daily Telegraph had already claimed victory for its Stop The Squatters campaign back in March. We’ve lost the legal battle long ago!!
(Although we will see how it pans out in the real world)
What’s next? Well the war on travellers of course. Stand by for more bullshit, this time courtesy of Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Pavilion.
With links at
https://brighton.squat.net/?p=153
He thought it was a good day because the amendment will criminalise squatting in residential buildings. Despite regulations already being in place to protect intending occupiers and displaced residents, people like Weatherley want to protect the holy law of property rights. I wonder how many houses Weatherley himself has.
Just like with reform of the drug laws, it seems like property law has to get worse before it gets better. It’s obvious that squatting is going to be criminalised, because that is what those in power want. Ken Clarke made a speech saying he was going to criminalise squatting the day before the consultation on squatting ended. Not the day after but the day before. The fact that the huge majority of those consulted thought there was no need for consultation was conveniently overlooked.
A letter to the Guardian from 158 academics, lawyers and solicitors working in housing law stated that the debate was not being helped by Members of Parliament giving incorrect statements in the media. What is interesting is to analyse the response of some of those MPs. Mike Weatherley said “the self-proclaimed experts who signed the letter, sheep-like, have a huge vested interest when it comes to fees after all,” as if everyone behaved like speculators.
Grant Schapps was even better. He tweeted that the people who signed the letter, who we can genuinely call experts in their professional field, were “sadly out of touch.”
Then he commented in the Guardian that “The guidance I published earlier this year makes clear to homeowners where the law stands on squatters, however commonsense suggests there should be quick and tough sanctions available when someone’s home is squatted, without the homeowner necessarily needing to bring a civil case.” Despite the clear fact that there are already legal measures in place to protect owner occupiers (as already mentioned), Schapps chooses to keep on perpetuating the same soundbite as Mike Weatherley. He was challenged on Twitter by some of the writers of the letter, those sadly out of touch, self-proclaimed experts and naturally did not deign to reply. There was no other way to answer.
It is clear that a united front is being presented here. The facts may not stand up to to scrutiny, but doesn’t really matter. The Daily Telegraph had already claimed victory for its Stop The Squatters campaign back in March. We’ve lost the legal battle long ago!!
(Although we will see how it pans out in the real world)
What’s next? Well the war on travellers of course. Stand by for more bullshit, this time courtesy of Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Pavilion.
With links at
![](/img/extlink.gif)
Spotter
Homepage:
https://brighton.squat.net
Comments
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Info
06.11.2011 22:05
Mario Buda
condemlab
07.11.2011 08:10
and supported by most of Labour mps too.
changeit
Wider stratagy for housing
07.11.2011 11:57
Deliottes company Igeus, providing the latest incarnation of the Welfare to Work program is encouraging social housing providers to involve themselves in providing lucrative but unimaginative work training scenes (the usual CV writing and trite pep talks)
Deliotte its-self specializes in advising multinationals on tax evasion, and were one of the principle architects in the rise and demise of the Tiger economies, getting multinationals to move their plant to developing nations, who were encouraged to give them huge incentives, and who then with drew out when the counties could reasonably expect to have some return, which effectively bankrupted them.
They encourage multinationals to move manufacturing out of this country, which caused mass unemployment in the first place, and in addition through the pre-pack system of receivership they allowed directors to buy back their assets while escaping their creditors, bankrupting smaller providers of goods and services which lead to further job loses.
Wages for a large proportion of the population do not meet rent rises. How better to control and subjugate an increasingly itinerant workforce than by linking social housing to employment and to do this effectively they are removing our right to be anywhere and our right to seek shelter.
UK- A safe haven for exploiters from around the globe, and heavily policed billets for the poor. (while your useful)
Subjugated
laboratory condem nation
07.11.2011 12:29
What about the right to 'live off the land'. That'll sort it.
'alf an octopus
Yes to autonomy
07.11.2011 14:07
Subjugated
Simon Kirby, MP his time would be better spent looking Sussex Police
13.11.2011 13:42
The Informer22
Homepage:
www.skirby.20m.com/
SIMON KIRBY MP HUMAN-RIGHTS WHATS THAT?
07.03.2012 18:27
Also now what is coming to light is his MASONIC involvement in the cover up of the murder of Katrina Taylor
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsyOtxDmK54
SUPERCOX
Homepage:
http://vtt.20fr.com/