Jeremy Corbyn calls for Government to take over ’empty’ houses and give them to survivors of Grenfell Tower fire
The Labour leader's call to 'requisition' houses in Kensington was supported by other MPs
JEREMY CORBYN today suggested seizing private property to house the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
The Labour leader pointed to supposedly empty homes around Kensington owned by ultra-wealthy investors.
And he said that the state might have to "requisition" the houses in the wake of the fire which has left dozens of families homeless.
His call - which would almost certainly be illegal - was supported by more moderate Labour figures including Harriet Harman.
Mr Corbyn visited the site of the tragedy in west London this morning and met with survivors of the devastating fire.
Speaking at a meeting of MPs this afternoon, he pointed to the irony that Grenfell Tower is near one of the richest areas in Britain.
He said: "Kensington is a tale of two cities. The south part of Kensington is incredibly wealthy, it's the wealthiest part of the whole country.
"The ward where this fire took place is, I think, the poorest ward in the whole country and properties must be found - requisitioned if necessary - to make sure those residents do get re-housed locally.
"It can't be acceptable that in London we have luxury buildings and luxury flats left empty as land banking for the future while the homeless and the poor look for somewhere to live."
After Mr Corbyn's comments, Ms Harman, the former deputy leader of Labour, said she agreed with him.
She wrote on Twitter: "Loads of empty flats (land banks) in Kensington. @jeremycorbyn right that govt should requisition to rehouse Grenfell survivors."
Labour MP David Lammy added: "Lots of homes left vacant in Kensington & Chelsea by overseas investors.
"I would like to see them requisitioned by Govnt to rehouse victims."
Parts of Kensington are known for their sky-high house prices, with a typical home in some streets worth as much as £10million.
Many of the properties are believed to be owned by foreign millionaires who only live there part of the year.
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However, seizing the houses and giving them to former residents of Grenfell Tower would probably be against the law.
The Government would have to issue some form of compulsory purchase order, but it would undoubtedly be challenged in the courts.
Theresa May today pledged that all those made homeless by the fire would be given social housing in London, as close to their previous home as possible.