In a busy meeting of Hounslow Council on Tuesday 23rd July, Hounslow Labour Councillors congratulated the new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on his landslide election win on 4^th July, and passed a motion to commit to working closely with the new Labour Government on a range of issues to support our Hounslow residents.

The motion – proposed by the Leader of Hounslow Council, Cllr Shantanu Rajawat and seconded by Labour Councillor for Feltham North Ward, Cllr Kuldeep Tak – noted that over the last fourteen years Hounslow’s Labour Administration and Local Government more generally has had to step in with solutions and innovation where the Conservative Government has chosen to be absent. It heralded the election of a new Labour Government as the start of a brighter future for Hounslow and the country, and called for the following:

• A fair multi-year funding settlement for Councils.
• Extend the Household Support Fund for at least another 12-months or introduce a new scheme.
• Make Britain a clean energy superpower to cut bills and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity.
• Transform life chances by reversing the decline in living standards and rising poverty across the country.

Hounslow Labour Councillors also passed a motion on tackling the Housing Crisis, a key aim for the new Labour Government. Proposed by Labour Councillor for Syon and Brentford Lock, Cllr Dan Bowring and seconded by Labour Councillor for Brentford West Ward, Cllr Emma Yates, the motion highlighted the good work that Hounslow Council has done in delivering a substantial number of high quality energy efficient new homes. It then highlights the Council’s commitment to the Government’s mandate to get Britain building again for the good of all of our residents, and to build on the brilliant work this Council is doing to attract inward investment through the Opportunity Hounslow banner and organise a Housing Conference.

The Conservative Group voted against both motions, and resorted to divisive political rhetoric that the vast majority of the electorate voted to do away with at the past General Election. Indeed, the Conservative Group Whip noted that he supported increased housebuilding to tackle the housing crisis, yet still voted against Hounslow Labour’s proposals.  In his speech Conservative Councillor for Chiswick Gunnersbury Ward, Cllr Ron Mushiso, launched a personal attack on Cllr Kuldeep Tak, a former Conservative Councillor who recently defected to the Labour Party – a Councillor, like so many voters this past election, who was brave enough to reject the incompetent and divisive politics offered by the Conservative Party and work to change our country for the better.

Leader of Hounslow Council, Cllr Shantanu Rajawat said:

“The motions put forward by myself and my Hounslow Labour colleagues at July’s Borough Council meeting showed that this is a forward-thinking Council looking to work in a positive, collaborative way with our new Labour Government for the benefit of our residents. After 14 wasted years, we finally have a real plan to create wealth across our country, and the Labour administration here in Hounslow believe we need to work together to achieve the very best outcome for all of our local communities.

Sadly the Hounslow Conservative Group have once again proven that they are incapable of stepping outside their political bubble and thinking of Hounslow’s residents. Whether throwing out unwarranted personal attacks against a former colleague who was deeply unhappy with the divisive rhetoric of the Conservative Party, or voting against initiatives to increase housebuilding to tackle the housing crisis in our own borough, the Conservatives have shown they are not fit to govern – both locally or nationally.

This meeting of Hounslow Council proved once and for all that Labour is the one who steps in to solve problems, Labour is the way forward and Labour is the only party that will build back Britain.”

• The Motions for the meeting of the Borough Council can be found here.