Forum Topic

Only 27 per cent of council housing in Ealing given to British people

After a freedom of information request I found out that only 27 per cent of council housing were allocated to British people, of all colours in Ealing!!! Most were to Nigerians (a relatively safe country) . Worryingly 5 per cent who were handed keys were from country unknown !!!! No wonder UKIP are gaining support with ridiculous policies like these. I have seen first hand huge families with suitcases come from Heathrow airport arrive at Ealing council housing dept. whilst our children are left homeless or languishing on housing waiting lists for 15 years

Dennis Brogan ● 4203d90 Comments

I beg to differ the IRA where from Northern Ireland which is part of the UK not from the Rep of Ireland where the Irish come from who are not part of the UK, get it right

Diana Oneill ● 4167d

Well said Andy

Diana Oneill ● 4167d

If you read the article the data is very iffy. The data is not from Ealing itself but some other organisation, which migration watch admits does not have a record of all lets. Just to get on the housing list you have to be resident in Ealing for 5 years, making a nonsense of the walk off a plane stories, and there is a 13,000 waiting list. You also have to have the right to live in this country.

Pete Grist ● 4184d

In a sense that figure reflects London's extraordinary ethnic mix and suspect its actually consistent with a lot of other boroughs. At the 2011 census, 36.7% of London's population was foreign born (including 24.5% born outside of Europe).

Richard Grange ● 4184d

I have no idea if the figures quoted in the original post are correct, but a FOI request a few years back did show Ealing only allocated social housing to 52% British nationals. That's quite a figure in its own right, and clearly out of whack with other boroughs. Though it seems councils aren't very consistent at collecting this sort of data.https://fullfact.org/factchecks/migration_social_council_housing_foreign_nationals-18654

John Walker ● 4184d

I wonder if he is a UKIP stooge? I thought it unnecessary and rather rude to say I should get my head out of the Guardian. As it happens I read it on my ipad :)

Chris Hurley ● 4185d

I have to say - and I am still waiting to be proved wrong - but its not looking good.Without data, this demonstrates the  problem of the entire immigration debate in microcosm.Random, unsourced facts get flung out and seized upon to "prove" whichever is the favourite theory of the month.

Richard Grange ● 4185d

Chris, it's now been almost 48 hours since I posted the offer and my Dropbox account remains 'unbothered'.Oh well, it was an unsubstantiated  rant then, moving on.

Nigel Brooks ● 4185d

I think many of us already have!

Chris Hurley ● 4185d

Well the OP has been asked to provide the 'pdf file he claims to have showing this and I have offered to 'host' it on my Dropbox account.No response as yet.

Nigel Brooks ● 4187d

This whole thread is based on a fabrication. For starters there are 13,000 on the waiting list and you need to be a resident for 5 years to even get on the list.The whole issue of the perception of who gets what, is confused by the results of the 'right to buy' introduced by Thatcher. This means that a lot of what were council flats/houses are now owned by buy-to-let which can give an impression of queue jumping.

Pete Grist ● 4187d

Happy to leave it a couple of days, after that; form your own conclusion.

Nigel Brooks ● 4187d

I'm starting to wonder if it really exists

Chris Hurley ● 4187d

If Mr.Brogan has the .pdf file he can e-mail it to me and I will put it on my Dropbox account with a link.

Nigel Brooks ● 4187d

Hi I set the deadline - which has passed. But no figures yet.Until we see them, this is all a bit of an artificial debate and is it really worth participating in?If the problem is converting data from a PDF and then being able to copy and paste- here's some advice below.http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-PDF-to-a-Word-Document

Richard Grange ● 4187d

There you go with your sweeping generalisations again.No blinkers on matey, I won't make such assertions without facts but your appear happy to do so.You need to get out more and look around you.Careful of the fall.

Nigel Brooks ● 4188d

Lol didn't you read the assertion that young black men are responsible for most murders  in the capital, oh you haven't read  the treads on here? Pah , take those blinkers off old chap, racists exist and haven't disappeared , calling anyone who disagrees with you PC is fine but no one's a racist ? get real mate

Gary Sinclair ● 4188d

I actually enjoy reasoned debate.I have never agreed with the original statement and called for the source data to substantiate it (try reading the thread before jumping in chap). There is no PC position that would defend a fact, we don't have any facts to support the original allegation and I don't like sweeping generalisations.The only 'fact' we have in this thread is the (irrelevant to the discussion topic) data that you supplied.When this exposed an imbalance between ethnicity and  prison population you start the normal PC 'bleat' of stereotyping.How are you coping with that fall?

Nigel Brooks ● 4188d

You hit the nail on the head the "lack of affordable housing", and whose fault is that? Many housing orgs/charities will tell you that its been the chronic lack of under-investment in new housing by governments of all complextions coupled with the diaster of right to buy that has led to a serious housing shortage, yet its so easy to blame immigrants, the easy default of some people on here, yeah so stop being lazy/sloppy in your thinking, angry and bitter, blaming others and seek to hold our elected representatives to account. Following your logic, some would say if you dont like it go back to Ireland!

Gary Sinclair ● 4188d

high horse? Wot you don't like people disagreeing with you? I/we won't shut up old chap because you think it's being politically correct to say we don't agree with statements like "only 27% of social housing goes to British people" "black young men are responsible for most of the murders in London" and so on. I couldnt careless what you think of me, old chap, not the slightest

Gary Sinclair ● 4188d

Wind your neck in chap!You are the one providing the dubious statistics which were no germane to the topic anyway.It's a very long way down from the high horse onto which you have climbed.

Nigel Brooks ● 4188d

And profiling used by the Police in the operation of SUS and stop and search, how when young black men get angry more often than not they are labelled mad by the criminal/mental health systems , more so than they do white males, how unemployment is higher for black youths than white males? I'm not saying we shouldn't examine some of the reasons why some communities have particular issues but I'd feel more comfortable if these discussion came from within those communities themselves and not from some people on here presumably white and British finger wagging and blaming others.

Gary Sinclair ● 4189d

These stats were provided in response to the statement that young black men are responsible for most murders in the capital.  Most acts of child sex abuse are committed in this country by white males. Now if these facts were being discussed with a view to seeking understanding and to constructively inform social policy fair enough but as we see on here, they are not, they are used in a judgemental, pejorative, condemning, scapegoating way to isolate and victimise those some on here consider "others".  Regards the prison population clearly Nigel you are ignorant of the racial steotyping

Gary Sinclair ● 4189d

White Black Asian Mixed Chinese or other Not stated/unknownPopulation aged 10 and over (2009) 88.6% 2.7% 5.6% 1.4% 1.6% 0.0%Stops and searches under Police and Criminal Evidence Act 67.2% 14.6% 9.6% 3.0% 1.2% 4.4%Arrests 2009/10 79.6% 8.0% 5.6% 2.9% 1.5% 2.4%Prison population (including foreign nationals) 72.0% 13.7% 7.1% 3.5% 1.4% 2.2%Hoist by your own petard sir if these figures are accurate.11.4% of the population 'non-white' but comprise 28% of the prison population.This however has as much to do with g=housing allocation as the price of fresh cod!

Nigel Brooks ● 4189d

You are completely wrong, the IRA was drawn from the ranks of republicans north and south. Stop blaming your homelessness on immigrants , you are just scapegoating others for your own problems, and that's what racists do . I wish you best of luck though in getting a home Dennis. Homelessness is not  funny.

Gary Sinclair ● 4189d

The IRA were from Soutern Ireland and the few that did live In Northern Ireland never recognised the border, so to say the IRA are white British is nonsense. What has stop and search got anything to do with me being homeless , because immigrants are jumping the housing queue and being housed in front of British people !!

Dennis Brogan ● 4189d

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom , therefore it's citizens are considered BritishMinistry of Justice figures regarding race and the criminal justice system in 2009/10 are shown in the table below.[15]White Black Asian Mixed Chinese or other Not stated/unknownPopulation aged 10 and over (2009) 88.6% 2.7% 5.6% 1.4% 1.6% 0.0%Stops and searches under Police and Criminal Evidence Act 67.2% 14.6% 9.6% 3.0% 1.2% 4.4%Arrests 2009/10 79.6% 8.0% 5.6% 2.9% 1.5% 2.4%Prison population (including foreign nationals) 72.0% 13.7% 7.1% 3.5% 1.4% 2.2%

Gary Sinclair ● 4189d

Dennis - I think you'll find I didn't set the deadline.

Sandra Jordan ● 4189d

Dennis - I think you'll find I didn't set the deadline.

Sandra Jordan ● 4189d

Just in case you didn't know when you accuse white British people of terrorism , the I .R.A. Were Irish which is not in Britain . Of course you cannot generalise about crime , but you can say In London most murders are committed by young black men and most pickpockets are Rumanian . Unless you don't live in the real world and read the Guardian .!!

Dennis Brogan ● 4189d

Sandra Jordan -the data is available from the freedom of information officer , Ealing town hall . I myself had the information sent to me in an email then a PDF folder . I have taken a picture of it but am having trouble sending it . I am seeing my friend tomorrow who is a computer wizard and I hope to meet your deadline

Dennis Brogan ● 4189d

Even Nigel Farage faced with the financial contribution made to the economy by immigrants couldn't challenge it. His response? "There are some things more important than money!" My understanding is that Europeans alone have contribute in excess of £20bn in the last 10 years.This idea of not being able to discuss race and immigration is nonsense. It's been constantly discussed for a number of years and sometimes in the most vile, cruel and offensive ways. We risk legitimising unacceptable language and behaviour and treatment of other humans on the basis of their nationality, ethnicity etc. There was such condemnation of the treatment of a black man on a train in Paris by white, British males yet i have seen that same incident here on a train. Immigrants are not the cause of this countries problems. It's interesting that we've stopped talking about stinking rich tax dodgers, bankers, unscrupulous employers and zero hour contracts etc. The financial elite are having a good laugh!

Sandra Jordan ● 4190d

Hi Dennis,This is all turning into a bun-fight. But no-one has seen the data. And until we do its all speculative. Why not set a deadline? Lets say 72 hours to put if up?That is Monday at midnight.And then we can at least have a proper debate.

Richard Grange ● 4190d

How about some actual figures (and where they come from). Make of this what you will:Number of households in Ealing Borough – 128,463 (GLA estimate)Current Number of Council dwellings – 18,000 (approx – Ealing Council)Number of Council houses lost to Right to Buy – 12.266 (Freedom of Information Query to Ealing Council 2014)Population Density of Ealing Borough – 60.95 persons per hectare (2011 census)  - Hammersmith and Fulham 111, Brent 72

Simon Derbyshire ● 4191d

Honour killings (cultural), FGM (cultural), forced prostitution of trafficked eastern European women (sheer criminality but focussed on south Asian gangs through eaetren European intermediaries)), bush meat (cultural)however are not.The open door policy has not helped nor has our total inability to monitor and deport (both EU and non-EU) foreign criminals

Nigel Brooks ● 4191d

Since Labour's open door policy- so you're saying "Honour killings, female genital mutilation, , forced marriage, under the counter "bush meat" , witchcraft, people in servitude" are perpetuated by EU nationals? I too don't like any of that and I agree it should all be illegal but to blame Labour is silly politiking, I think the crimes you highlight are more to do with the lecacy of Empire!    People trafficking, criminals, terrorism (remember the IRA? )forced prostitution etc are prevalent in all communities, including the white British!

Gary Sinclair ● 4191d

Certainly there is no evidence of UKIP doing well in the London area - or specifically in Ealing Central and Acton.Strongholds, if any, are in Thurrock and maybe Peterborough and the like but not in the rather diverse society that we have.But you can ask the UKIP candidate yourself on April 29th - he and the Conservative, Labour, LibDem and Green candidates are taking part in an Election Hustings, organised by the CCA at the Town Hall at 7.30pm.

Sara Nathan ● 4191d

I bet if you added up the costs of benefits, housing costs, keeping these guys in prison, education and healthcare..... I bet there's not much in it.

Andy Wright ● 4191d

Well..... Honour killings, female genital mutilation,people trafficking, forced marriage, criminals, terrorism, under the counter "bush meat" , witchcraft, people in servitude, forced prostitution ect.I know some of these problem already existed here but it's a lot worse since Labours open door policy.

Andy Wright ● 4191d

no Andy thats not correct, the tax revenue they give is more than they take in the goods/services you describe. Regards UKIP, its imploding, you aint seen anything yet!

Gary Sinclair ● 4191d

Andy, what problems do they bring with them? How do they not follow "our" rules?

Gary Sinclair ● 4191d

People do have MASSIVE concerns about what's happening in the UK.... and I can't blame them.Immigration is as good as it is bad..... it also comes with lots of shady stuff too.... and it's not racist to point that out !

Andy Wright ● 4191d

Yes he did..... I know the white English also have our problems but that's like saying that because we have our problems then we shouldn't complain that others bring their problems here ! These people are GUESTS in the UK and should behave like so.... no more than if you were a guest in someone's house or another country, you'd have to follow their rules regardless.Muslims are a COMPLETELY different thing as what's happening with them is more cultural and not behavioural.

Andy Wright ● 4191d

Gary.I never mentioned the words immigrants asylum seekers.... I said it was about money.I agree that migrants do make a contribution to our tax system... but a lot of that is negated when they have children at school as it costs anywhere between £4000 to £6000 per year to educate them, then minus the benefits lots of them claim.... plus Doctor or hospital costs ect ect.Yes the UKIP are doing very well when you consider how long they've been around. 

Andy Wright ● 4191d

I did watch it, didn't he also reference the many ills/troubles that many white British people have? such as getting pissed and violent every Saturday night, and low educational attainment? Fuuny I seldom hear people on this forum saying "why is it WE British white poeple have this problem?" but they are quite happy to crap on about muslims and immigrants

Gary Sinclair ● 4191d

Why then is reference constantly made, and I mean constantly,  by some people on here to "immigrants" and "asylum seekers" when less than 3% of social housing nationally goes to foreigners, when recently it was announced that immigrants are net contributors to the tax base, and when the health services issues are far more complicated when people on here constantly snip its a International Health Service. UKIP doing well? I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Gary Sinclair ● 4191d

Lol you happyily wade into a debate adding you have grave concerns about the state of our country when ziltch facts have been presented regards the outrageous claim that only 27% of council housing has been given to British people by Hounslow Council. You saying I'm pc if I question whether some peole's intent on here is to cause mischieve and is racist is utter rubbish, racists exist, fact, and they haven't disappeared, stop being willfully deluded.

Gary Sinclair ● 4191d

And there you have it !    it's almost like a default setting with some people.How on earth is it racist to be concerned about housing shortages, hospital places and school places ect ect ??Most people are just concerned about the infrastructure and how it's paid for.... and who pays for it, so it's more about money than race !For all you people who call us racists..... YOU ARE THE REASON THAT UKIP IS DOING SO WELL !

Andy Wright ● 4191d

Messages get mixed-up in their order.  My message was aimed at those who brandish that word around like some kind of "get of jail free card".

Angela White ● 4191d

Er - not sure if this message was aimed at me or more generally? -But for avoidance of doubt I haven't called anyone racist.

Richard Grange ● 4191d

Agree with getting the stats out and don't agree with intimidating people by labelling them racist when we have grave concerns about the state of our country.  Get off your high horse.  You give the Left a bad name.

Angela White ● 4191d

I want to see the data too.At the moment we only have Mr Brogan's word to go on that it even exists.Get the data out there, and then lets have a proper debate.

Richard Grange ● 4191d

"Orwellian "anti PC " rhetoric "I would urge you to watch the Trevor Philips (former head of the CRE) programme that was broadcast on C4 last night.An amazing Damascene moment from the man who underpinned 'PC rhetoric' for twenty years who now openly admits that we were and are wrong not to discuss race and that there are many 'inconvenient truths' which have been swept under the carpet for the sake of being PC.I would urge anyone who wants to hear a balanced (possibly with the exception of Tony Blair who was an interviewee and still came across as a 'Teflon-coated' sleaze) approach to discussing race to watch the programme.

Nigel Brooks ● 4191d

Of course if we leave the EU, 2 million Brits may be forced to come back to the UK. Btw - London is one of the least densely populated capital cities in the world. but facts eh, if they don't fit don't wear them.

Antony OBrien ● 4191d

He won't give you the info you want that's obvious, this is just a crude manipulation to stir trouble and get people to vote for UKIP or worse. And yep  as is becoming  obvious  on here there are some racists  operating and I'm not going to allow their Orwellian "anti PC " rhetoric to stop me saying so, I agree , it's some people's sense of entitlement that needs to be tackled what ever their background.

Gary Sinclair ● 4191d

Agree with Andy. (gosh,twice in a week!). Dennis, for the avoidance of doubt, perhaps you could let us have the link to the FOI request so we can read the figures for ourselves.It doesn't matter which name was used to make the request. The system allows for any or no name to be used.With thanks in advance.

Maire Lowe ● 4191d

But Andy, this is treating the symptom and not the cause.  We need to treat the cause, otherwise we're fire-fighting.

Angela White ● 4191d

Sorry Dennis but I remain sceptical about these figures until you actually publish them here. I don't dispute the central point that a large proportion of social housing has gone to immigrants but casual observation on housing estates in East and South Acton is that the predominant ethnic group is East African rather than West African.Social housing is allocated on a points system and having no home and a family puts you at the top of that list. An asylum seeking family from Somalia can't work to pay for accommodation so once they have been given leave to remain they have little choice but to register for social housing. With hardly any new social housing units being created and people unlikely to move out of them once they have been allocated one (cf the current Council Leader) the system is not functioning properly.The so-called affordable housing actually now seems to be subsidised property for well-connected public sector workers. At the end of the day the only answer to a housing shortage is to build more houses but our current systems seems to be designed to stop that happening.

Andy Jones ● 4191d

Re; Chris Hurley -Forget Idi Amin , the highest number of people successful in getting council properties were from Nigeria And second India. Both countries fast growing relatively calm with no evil dictators. So get your head out of the Guardian and agree that council houses to British first ,economic migrants second !!!

Dennis Brogan ● 4191d

It's not about whether you are from immigrant families (I am) or whether you are an immigrant who came here years ago.....we are overcrowded, full stop, no more please.

Angela White ● 4192d

I know its controversial - but I like Acton's immigration mix.Most of the immigrant families I encounter are hard working, ambitious and determined to get on. I'd prefer that to people who think that being born in the UK means you are somehow automatically owed a living.

Richard Grange ● 4192d

Yes exactly. Who really can claim not to be an immigrant? We all came from somewhere else even if it was a long time ago. My mother was an immigrant - but she is white so didn't face the racism that so many others did and still do face. The latest in a long line being Eastern Europeans, before that Afro - Caribbean, before that the Irish. I wonder if someone like Idi Amin came along now, whether we would help like we did in the 1970s, or just say sorry we are full up?!

Chris Hurley ● 4192d

complex "problem" looking for a simple solution. blame immigrants being top of the list. sad really. Most people on here, in Acton, in London, who scream that we are full are immigrants themselves. course, that's different.

Antony OBrien ● 4192d

You cannot stop blaming immigrants that's the whole point they are swamping our country & creating this artificial housing bubble so the pressure on housing social or otherwise is extreme! The issue's are interlinked its nothing whatsoever to do with Thatcher's 1980's policies of selling council homes if you give them all away effectively for nothing you can have 100m homes the demand will be way higher its saying to planet earth you want a better life & free housing/money come to the UK & give nothing back in return we will fund the bill forever it seems!The vast majority of immigrants are not fleeing anything dangerous whatsoever in their home lands. They are taking the easy option out of going somewhere with generous free benefits & then milking the system dry.The housing bubble is a byproduct of this artificial demand thats why the UK is effectively bankrupt we are giving away free housing & benefits to a ridiculous amount of economic migrants.Why do they need to live in London anyway the rents up north are far cheaper & there are so many empty properties up there its time the government took action on this & moved these economic migrants to the most cheapest property in the UK & changes the rules so in future the only option is the cheapest property wherever that may happen to be in the UK.

Peter M Jones ● 4192d

I hate the word "swamped" and you used it twice. There are 2 separate issues here. One is housing. The other is immigration. What has happened to the concept of housing based on social need? More affordable - really affordable housing is needed urgently. Social housing, or even as it used to be called, council housing is so badly needed. The rot started with Thatcher in the 1980s and the right to buy. Where did all that money go- certainly not on building more council houses. The second thing that should be done is to bring in rent controls to stop sky high rents and insecurity for tenants. We must stop blaming immigrants. Its the use of housing as speculative capital that is to blame.

Chris Hurley ● 4192d

Totally agree, Peter.  We should have the stat though, so we're clear.  One is already aware of the situation and I challenge anyone to say this situation is our imagination and at the same time we can't state stats when we don't verify where they come from.Our country cannot cope with so many people, full stop.  If those people contribute, that's great but anyone who doesn't when they can, whatever their race, is a drain on us all, and any queue jumping in the name of "positive discrimination" has to stop.

Angela White ● 4192d

I just registered as a long time almost 50 years resident of Acton/Ealing I thought I would give my opinion on this subject:1: Dennis is most likely correct there has been a massive influx of migrants into Acton/Ealing in the last few years especially. 27% British sounds too high to me I would not be surprised if it was much lower.2: If you live in an expensive part of Acton & or do not venture into the other poorer areas then you will be oblivious to this reality.3: I have personally seen large areas of Acton become completely swamped with economic migrants most are either living in council accomodation or living in buy to let property funded by the tax payer via housing benefit. Try to get a FOI for how many NEW overseas residents have arrived in Acton over the last 10 years & how many of those have ever worked! You need to be seriously deluded & or living in an ivory tower to think otherwise the reality is something else again & completely shocking that our country is run in such a way to disadvantage our own people.I will give you some clues here go look down Bromyard Avenue at all those new properties in the old DWP pension building & the luxury flats (£400-420k each not exactly affordable) where the ex-prison officers flats were for starters then take a wander down Emlyn Road (I know its on the border for Hammersmith) but there is a massive new estate down there where the old CAV/Lucas factories used to be if you can spot even a handful of British families living there (out of 100s of luxury homes) I would be stunned both areas are swamped with non British families. Its systemic abuse on a grand scale those properties must be worth tens of millions all paid for by the council & or housing associations.Then wonder why Ealing has a 15 year waiting list & friends, family, sons, daughters etc etc trying  to make their way in the world cannot get anything except temporary accomodation for many years before they even qualify for the waiting list! I could go on but you get the point by now & its not just Ealing either its most of London even Chiswick now is getting in on the act.Buy To Let landlords do not care they are making a fortune that's why the council planning permission gets granted when they want to accomodate more people as there is such massive pressure on accomodation in the borough & why so many estate agents have appeared in the last 5 years.You must be monumentally naive & or live in a very blinkered environment to not see this with your own eyes.Its nothing to do with racism either its FACT wake up people & look closely the obvious signs are all around us there is nothing you can do about it either except vote for who you believe will change things for the better & or raise awareness of this shocking issue.

Peter M Jones ● 4192d

I am sorry but the truth seems to hurt a lot of you,it is so easy to brandish the word racist when someone says something you do not like. I am an Irish emigrant came over here in 1983 with my husband, we settled, both have worked since we landed, never had a council house, we still work, pay taxes,ni and have our own home, We have a son (went to Acton High has worked since he left college who along with his mixed race (NHS nurse) fiancé  and my grandchild are living in 1 room because they cannot afford the affordable housing and are not entitled to social housing according to the council, then I look out my window to see people who have contributed nothing to this country getting council housing paid for by me (us the taxpayer),and you see that as racist, SHAME ON YOU! because this is a reality in Ealing and across the UK. You need stats, look around you and take your hand out of the sand.

Diana Oneill ● 4192d

I would like to see those stats.  At the same time, I agree with Peter.  Well put.

Angela White ● 4192d

Dennis, I second Ana's request for you to publish these numbers. The list of recent FoI requests made to Ealing Council are on the following link -https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/ealing_borough_councilI looked through those published in the last few months and could not find your request.

Andy Jones ● 4192d

Dennis,Can you post the percentage figures per country you referred to in your original message? Thank you.

Ana Strachan ● 4192d

I am not a member of any particular party and am more than happy to send anybody the exact breakdown , the F . O . I dept emailed me

Dennis Brogan ● 4192d

Alarming thread, does the quote below represent the silent majority?"I see political correctness as a vile enemy of humanity and a crude interference with the notion of elementary freedom and authenticity. Instead of ‘saying what we think,’ we are trained to ‘think before we say.’ I define ‘political correctness’ ‘ as ‘politics that doesn’t allow political opposition.’ It is interesting that the same definition can be attributed to tyranny. But political correctness is far more vile than tyranny. Under tyranny we understand that there is a clear distinction between the ruler and the oppressed political subject; in the case of political correctness we are dealing with a radical form of self-suppression."

Peter Savick ● 4192d

Sarah Whittaker -Moore .i am currently on benefits after my business of 29 years employing 65 people went bust . I paid over £5 million pounds in tax and put my savings into propping my company up , as I felt a duty to my staff ( many of them black and asian ) . I found myself homeless , penniless and distraught that immigrants who paid nothing into this country , jumped the queue and were being handed properties with the aid of interpreters and legal specialists!! I am not racist my parents are immigrants and it disgusts me how people like you call me racist when I state facts!!

Dennis Brogan ● 4192d

I would like to see the specific breakdown of these figures from the Freedom of Information request.

Ana Strachan ● 4193d

Hang on , how far are we from  the general election? It's certainly not racist to question/query housing allocations but we cannot assume that the  intent behind the question isn't motivated by an agenda, whatever that is, and that may well be racist, who knows , it wasn't that long ago that ex NF members sat on the council. Btw this anti PC backlash shouldn't be used as a cover to abandon all responsibility and start laying into different  communities / people we hold prejudices towards. Personally I smell a rat with this original question...

Gary Sinclair ● 4193d

If the statement can be substantiated ( I would like to see the source) and if no sweeping generalisations are made then the comment is not racist irrespective of how many PC 'bleeding hearts' claim it to be.Trevor Phillips, former head of the Commission for Racial Equality is now adamant that these 'inconvenient truths' must be spoken about openly without fear of upsetting 'the liberal PC minority'.

Nigel Brooks ● 4193d

Is this stat correct or not?  No need to call people names if it is.  We should be able to discuss these matters without being shamed and intimidated into silence.

Angela White ● 4193d

I was hoping no one would give this idiotic comment the oxygen it craves. Shame.

Antony OBrien ● 4193d

Oh get off your high horse.  Most hardworking tax payers would absolutely agree with Mr. Brogan.  Its nothing to do with racism.  Pure common sense. We cannot afford to have unlimited amounts of people coming into the UK.  Schooling? Housing? NHS? etc.  And, no , Im not at all racist.  Im only half English myself.

Danielle Fox ● 4193d

Mr Brogan, how dare you sprout these racist comments when you are clearly benefiting from the state or do you work at Ealing Housing Department?

Sarah Whittaker-Moore ● 4193d

So Gary, is this stat incorrect, the 27 per cent figure?  I agree about Angie.  She's on the ball.

Angela White ● 4194d

No factually incorrect. Housing law is national in its application and each authority must publish its rules of allocation which Ealing does. Yes there is some local discretion permitted but it's very very  limited. Ask yourself this question, why would it be in the political interests of any administration to give public housing to immigrants  over local tax payers who have the vote? What you have presented here is a distortion to serve what purpose I do not know. Btw Angie Bray is an excellent hard working MP and believe me if there was any credence to your claim she would be the first to take this upwith this. I am a labour supporter but Angie will be getting my vote as she is dedicated to all constituents.

Gary Sinclair ● 4194d

Here's the info I found for Mr Pat Hayes:  Executive Director Regeneration and HousingMr Pat Hayes hayesp@ealing.gov.uk Tel: 020 8825 8120

Angela White ● 4194d

Dennis. I agree with Angela that the application of Housing Policy is a matter for the Council. If such something specific is worrying you, the relevant Director is Pat Hayes.

Maire Lowe ● 4194d

That's a real pity.  Angie Bray came out to see residents who are very concerned about the Friary Park redevelopment and she spent a large amount of time listening to us and looking around, asking questions and I have to say she's been very helpful in that she then met with the housing group and reported that meeting back to us.  She's our MP but Ealing Council run their own show, especially as they are a Labour Council, clearly she can only input and not change anything?

Angela White ● 4194d

Hi Angela , I went to see our MP Angie Bray , who told me it was Ealing Council and did nothing at all to help me.

Dennis Brogan ● 4194d

Thanks for the warning, Andy!  I did a risk assessment on this before posting.....I reckoned that someone might try the usual and predictable intimidation method of labelling me a racist, but I checked with those I respect first and I'm in the clear.  ;-)

Angela White ● 4194d

Be careful guys..... your probably going to be labelled as racist !

Andy Wright ● 4197d

Whose policies are these, Ealing Council or is this nationwide?  What can be done about this?  I'm not happy with this at all.  I am completely baffled as to why this is the case.

Angela White ● 4197d