Tories attack homeless

champagnesocialist Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 12:15:25 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Conservatives on Westminster City Council want to ban soup runs from giving help to homeless people - they are attempting to insert a measure in the London Local Authorities bill that will outlaw the distribution of food. If passed today the bill will be debated in the commons and then if passed the ban would come in sometime next year.




Westminster use arguments like soup runs keep people on the streets etc whereas those who operate soup runs say that they offer outreach to some of the people most at the margins of society and that without food and soup runs people would literally die.

It seems wrong that westminster is attempting to restrict my freedom to help another person who I think is in need: surely we all have a moral duty to our fellow citizens to help them rather than leave them to starve.

If you are a Christian you will undertsand the importance of reaching out  and caring for the most marginalised: parable of the good samaritan and all that...


On a more pragmatic level it will also restrict our freedom to manouvre as political activists: I'm sure there are occasions as campaigners when we have handed out food items alongside literature: maybe not in a party political context but other campaign groups often hand out sweets, cakes, coffee to engage with people: will this now be criminalised?

 

There is further information on the situation on the BBC website at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7063914.stm
and letters in the papers - http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,,2209394,00.html  



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Tories attack homeless | 14 comments (14 topical)

Re: Tories attack homeless (#1)

by NorthernMonkey on Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 05:08:54 PM GMT

Disgraceful. Have the Tories no shame?

If I want to give food to the poor then it's my right to do so and no politician should take that right away from me.


Re: Tories attack homeless (#5)

by markmcdonald on Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 09:46:26 PM GMT

I have just come in from helping to run the soup kitchen in Lincoln’s Inn, and every year the line gets longer. There are many types people who queue for food, ex con’s, people with mental illness, immigrants; some people live on the streets, some live in hostels and yes, maybe some live in flats. But they are all at the bottom of the pile, they all need help and they are all grateful when they are handed a cup of tea or leftovers from a high street food shop. Before we leave, we always pick up the cups, paper plates and rubbish.

 

Lincoln’s inn has for generations been the meeting point for the homeless and those in need and now one Council wishes to destroy all this work. Westminster has again and again proved how heartless they can be. I wonder if Camden (now a Tory / Lib Dem council) will follow suit. However, I also want to know what Ken Livingstone thinks, and what he will do if Westminster gets their way.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tories attack homeless (#9)

by SocialistAC on Wed Nov 14, 2007 at 03:58:16 PM GMT

I'm not surprised the mentally ill need soup kitchens - it seems all there is in this country at the moment is either prison or the streets for mhd sufferers!


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Re: Tories attack homeless (#2)

by laurencemarshall on Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 05:16:45 PM GMT

This has been an issue for a long time, about a year ago Westminster restricted charities giving out food. Typical tories.

Also, what the hell does it have to do with being a Christian? Don't other faiths have a moral duty to care for the less fortunate? Furthermore, I would say that the secular concept of morality has a lot more to say than supposed Christian values.


Re: Tories attack homeless (#3)

by champagnesocialist on Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 05:59:56 PM GMT

I wasnt particularly linking it to Christianity - its just a lot of the soup runs are provided by church based charities and groups. As you say all faiths place a duty on believers to care for those less well off than themselves, in Christianity (the religion I'm most familiar with and nominally this country's 'official' religion) such parables as the good samaritan, the feeding of the 5000 etc, the importance of feeding people came most readily to mind.

It of course morally wrong whatever your faith (or lack thereof) that people do not have enough food to live on or face a life of homelessness.

Anyway as a result of today's meeting and the controversy this proposal has aroused the measure was not voted on at the London Councils meeting. London Councils will be seeking another form of words which the 32 boroughs and the city of London can agree on regarding this 'problem'
and will make a final decision on the matter on Friday.


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Re: Tories attack homeless (#4)

by champagnesocialist on Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 06:03:14 PM GMT

(I should explain that London Councils is the umbrella organisation for the 32 boroughs and corporation of London and was responsible for organising the draft legislation - more info is at http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=21012&cat=937)


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Re: Tories attack homeless (#6)

by alexswanson on Wed Nov 14, 2007 at 09:54:59 AM GMT

I'm not going to comment on this specifically since I know nothing about it.

 

I will content myself by asking the question: why, after ten years of a government which has continually proclaimed that fighting poverty is a priority, and has not been reluctant to spend whatever amount of money it thinks is required on anything, is there still any need for volunteers to be providing food for the homeless?


Re: Tories attack homeless (#7)

by treborc on Wed Nov 14, 2007 at 10:36:41 AM GMT

Totally agree why do we have so much poverty in the UK a country which is 5th in the list of richest.

I am disabled and living below the poverty line I get £120 a week to live on I have to pay rent and council tax and actually live on £15 a week.

The life of anyone within the UK right now who is either out of work poor or disabled is a life of poverty.

I know get a job, sadly not many employers want a person who walks on his arse, who cannot use his hands, smells because he has a bag as a bowel and bladder.

NO I think Labour would be far better off asking why the hell these people are living like this. and what can we do, oh I know Unumprovient is coming to force us all into work I cannot wait.  


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Re: Tories attack homeless (#8)

by alexhilton on Wed Nov 14, 2007 at 01:53:09 PM GMT

because we haven't been redistributive enough


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Re: Tories attack homeless (#10)

by NorthernMonkey on Wed Nov 14, 2007 at 05:08:53 PM GMT

You're right Alex - nice to see you're questioning the lack of progressiveness in the UK.

We clearly need a more progressive tax system which redistributes more from the rich to the poor. If only all Tories could be as thoughtful as you.


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Re: Tories attack homeless (#12)

by swatantra on Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 10:57:26 AM GMT

And the Govt has acted. Louise Casey I believe headed the Task Force on getting the 'homeless' off our streets There are many complex problems which have driven individuals to abandon hope and lose the will to cope. Soup kitchens may help in the short term but they are not the answer. More shelters and hostels have to be proveded. Once the rough sleepers are off the streets, then the serious work of reintroducing them back into society begins, in earnest.


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Re: Tories attack homeless (#13)

by champagnesocialist on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 01:56:52 PM GMT

I agree totally - but outlawing basic help such as soup runs doesnt do anything to solve the problem. Westminster City Council homelessness services should welcome and work with this extra service which in many cases is able to reach out to the most marginalised people


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Re: Tories attack homeless (#11)

by Falco on Wed Nov 14, 2007 at 07:16:51 PM GMT

"It seems wrong that westminster is attempting to restrict my freedom"

Is that because you're used to the Labour party doing it?

I do however, support you in being opposed to such a ban. It seems to be yet another restriction on perfectly decent behaviour. 


Re: Tories attack homeless (#14)

by champagnesocialist on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 02:03:22 PM GMT

As you may have seen the controversy over this measure which saw many letters being sent to London Councils and promises that the measure would be thoroughly scrutinised and amended if it got to parliament meant that London Councils dropped it from the London Local Authorities bill - see http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=21282&cat=937


Tories attack homeless | 14 comments (14 topical)