Labour has set out plans to put power in the hands of tenants with a new ‘charter of renters’ rights which will protect private renters from bad landlords.
The charter will enable new open-ended tenancies, protecting tenants from unfair eviction; new minimum standards, backed by a new annual property MOT as well as fresh local enforcement powers, and local housing allowance increased to cover the cost of renting.
The national ‘property MOT’ would introduce a legal requirement for landlords to complete an independent annual inspection to ensure homes are up to scratch, with tough fines and forced repayment of rent to tenants if landlords let out sub-standard properties or flout the rules.
Nationally, one in four private rented homes are classed as ‘non-decent’, meaning they are damp, cold, in disrepair or unsafe to live in.
There are 27,723 households in Harrow – 31% – that will benefit from the Labour’s plans.
Labour’s candidate in Harrow East, Pamela Fitzpatrick, said “As the number of council homes has been cut by the Tories, there have been more and more private renters, with fewer and fewer choices.
“Now one in three families are renting privately here, and none of them are protected by the government if their landlord tries to get one over on them.
“It doesn’t have to be this way: what we need are rent controls and strong rights to help renters against dodgy landlords. That’s real change for renters.
“Everyone deserves high quality housing – and this is how we’ll make sure we get it. Labour’s got your back.”

Snapshot survey by the Harrow Monitoring Group indicates that Tory candidate Bob Blackman has disappointed many voters who feel that he is more interested in retaining his seat than resolving the overriding Harrow issues.
In the 2017 general election, Labour achieved +5.3 swing, slashing Mr Blackman’s (Con) majority from 4,757 in 2015 to 1,757, despite his divisive politics, like using places of worship and exploiting sectarian and international issues, to attract the Indian or Jewish background voters.
Many others did, but did Mr Blackman distance himself from the toxic messages (‘vote against Labour’) circulating within a certain community which he extensively works on?
After rubbishing Jeremy Corby in his recent letter to the residents, Mr Blackman poses a question: would they vote for him who has “actively represented” them or “Jeremy Corbyn representative in Harrow”?
Far from representing the interests of majority constituents, he is supporting Brexit even when reminded that majority in Harrow East voted for Remain!!
He remains unconcerned about the brutal force of Tory enforced austerity that has harshly cut down the expenditure of local government which has serious implications for the council services – Harrow council has lost £50m.
The austerity and the resulting socio-economic deprivation might not be significant issues in the four Tory dominated wards, these are very real matters in the other wards in Harrow East.
Harrow CCG is almost £40 million in the red and its financial position worsening, resulting in three walk-in centres have closed or are closing. Mr Blackman has not supported residents concerns regarding the closure but is rather pleased that the clinics are now appointment only GP services.

Entry of the Brexit party candidate Richard Jones, who believes that “trust in our democracy is under threat” and who is ready to “reform” the political system, could have the same beneficial effect for Tory candidate Dr Anwara Ali as did the *Referendum party in 1997 when Gareth Thomas unexpectedly won since there are many Labour Leavers in Harrow West – (*Referendum party gained 1997 votes and Gareth Thomas won by 1200 votes).
Though Harrow has a possibility to have its first Muslim MP, perhaps her party is not enthusiastic about it.
Dr Anwara Ali and few of her fellow Bangladeshi friends from her town Tower Hamlets were seen distributing her introduction leaflet outside the Harrow mosque this Friday. They were pleading for a vote for her just because who she is – no professional canvassing!
Not only that she seems to have no local prominent Tories around (like the leader and deputy leader of the Tory group) but she seems to be missing political direction for a meaningful campaign.
Politically rather immature leaflet, printed in East End and probably from her money, says “I understand the issues and concerns faced by many of you, rising gang crime, fly-tipping, high rise developments with loss of historic skyline, stretched NHS services and loss of green space”.
Is there ‘gang crime’ in Harrow? Usually these are the councillors and not an MP who try to resolve ‘fli-tipping’ issues. Most of the ‘high rise developments’ in Harrow have already taken place and the use of green spaces is according to the local, regionally and national planning policies and guidelines.
While Dr Ali has been left to swim or sink, her background is well used by local and national Tory party to veil Islamophobia in the party.
For example, nationally, to shield Boris Johnson who is a “racist PM and a racist candidate”, according to the founder of Momentum Jon Lansman  who was recently speaking in Harrow.
Locally, to defend the well exposed Harrow East candidate Bob Blackman for his endorsement of anti-Muslim elements, and the Belmont councillor and Brent North Tory candidate Anjana Patel for her anti-Muslim comments.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott slams cuts to police and youth services on visit to Wealdstone in Harrow East constituency.
“Listening to local business owners and the people of Wealdstone, it’s clear that people are aware to the systemic problems that have proliferated under the Tories when it comes to keeping communities safe” she said.
Since the Tories came to power, a massive 21,000 police have been taken off the streets leading to massive rises in crime and councils have been starved of funding that supports local community centres and other forms of preventative measures.
There has been a worrying increase in hate crime since the referendum. In Harrow in the 12 months to Sept 2019 there were 648 racist and religious hate crimes reported up from 288 the previous year. Many people do not report incidents so the actual figure is likely to be higher.
“We will put thousands of more police on our streets to make the people of Harrow East feel safer today but we won’t stop there. A Labour government will take action to address the causes of crime and end the epidemic and tackle at its root causes” said Ms Abbott.
Pamela Fitzpatrick, Labour candidate for Harrow East who was with Ms Abbott (R), added:  “It saddens to me to speak to local people in the area and hear them worried about the safety of them and their family. The people of Wealdstone should feel as safe as people in Windsor.  Harrow East will be safer under a Labour government, putting more police on the streets and funding youth services to stop crime at its root causes”.
Regarding the housing crisis, another associated concern, Ms Fitzpatrick said that whilst Boris Johnson is refusing to fund the council and social homes our people desperately need, “a Labour Government will give the go ahead to over a million low-cost homes over the next 10 years.”
There are more than 1,883 people waiting for a council home in Harrow – but not a single home was built for them last year, Ms Fitzpatrick informed.
The number of socially rented homes being built in Harrow has fallen from 237 in 2010/11, when the last Labour government’s funding for councils was still being delivered, to zero in 2017/18 – the last financial year for which there are figures.

Labour supporters turned out in big numbers in Tory dominated Canons ward in a show of strength, supporting Labour candidate Pamela Fitzpatrick – see footage!
They joined Owen Jones, Labour activist and Guardian columnist, and Momentum on 20 November to unseat the Tories in Harrow East event held at the Canons Park station.
It has been reported that Harrow East’s Tory MP Bob Blackman is a right-wing extremist. He’s opposed equal marriage, called for the reintroduction of the anti-gay Section 28, has retweeted anti-Muslim hatred and a post by far right leader Tommy Robinson, as well as backing the bedroom tax, austerity, cuts to taxes on the rich, trebling tuition fees, privatisation and other unjust Tory policies, including removing hot meals for children from low income families.
In the last election, his majority collapsed from 4,757 to just 1,757 despite he has calculated his votes and stirs up emotions in the Indian and Jewish background voters for political gains all the time.
Many believe that Mr Blackman is not interested in Harrow.
Majority in Harrow East voted Remain but he works for Brexit.
He remains unconcerned about brutal force of Tory austerity that has slashed the expenditure of local government – Harrow council has lost £50m.
The Tories have cut millions from schools in Harrow since 2015 but Mr Blackman is least interested in working towards reversing these callous cuts.
Mr Blackman has not really done anything to ease huge pressure on A&E at Northwick Park.
Harrow CCG is almost £40 million in the red and its financial position worsening, resulting in three walk-in centres have closed or are closing. Mr Blackman has not supported residents concerns regarding the closure but is rather pleased that the clinics are now appointment only GP services.

Belmont councillor Anjana Patel’s conduct has remained a matter of concern in Harrow and beyond.
The popular BuzzFeed.News reports that the ‘Tories Knew About This Candidate’s Anti-Muslim Tweet, But Let Her Stand Anyway’.
Anjana Patel, the Conservative candidate in Brent North, quietly deleted her account after asking Malala Yousafzai what she was doing to stop sex offenders from “your religion”, BuzzFeed inform.
Before BuzzFeed news, Anjana Patel’s tweet was included in a dossier of alleged anti-Muslim social media conduct by Conservative councillors sent by LBC to the Tory party last week.
“The Conservative Party knew one of its candidates at the upcoming election had been embroiled in its ongoing Islamophobia scandal, but decided to let her stand anyway after she quietly deleted her Twitter account” BuzzFeed reported.
Eight months ago, Anjana Patel sent an unprompted tweet to Malala Yousafzai demanding to know “how are you going to help?” after two Hindu girls were allegedly kidnapped, “molested and forcibly converted” to “your religion, Islam”, BuzzFeed said.
Patel’s tweet appeared to suggest that Yousafzai, the 22-year-old Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, was somehow responsible for the actions of other Muslims. “The world should know about this barbaric act by Islamists. Don’t block me,” Patel wrote to Yousafzai on March 26, tagging the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, BuzzFeed elaborated.
“Anjana Patel’s tweets to Malala Yousufzai were hideously Islamophobic, offensive and not acceptable under any circumstances. The fact that the Conservative Party still endorsed her, despite apparently being fully aware of her racism, is disappointing but not surprising” the Muslim Council of Britain said.

Labour equal pay policy would benefit Harrow East and overall wage increase to £10 an hour real living wage for everyone would ease much increased child poverty.
Pamela Fitzpatrick, Labour’s candidate in Harrow East welcomes the policy and said “It’s completely unacceptable that in Harrow East there is still a 11.9 per cent gap in wages between men and women”.
Laura Pidcock, shadow employment rights secretary & Dawn Butler, shadow women and equalities secretary, set out the next Labour government’s target of closing the gender pay gap by 2030.
Next year marks 50 years since the Equal Pay Act, but the mean gender pay gap for full-time work stands at 13.1%.
“Working women have been at the bottom of the list of priorities for government and under the Tories plans, it’ll take sixty years to close the gap” Ms Fitzpatrick commented.
“Labour in government will be uncompromising in tackling the structural barriers that are holding so many women back in Harrow East” she added.
The policy includes introducing national pay scales in low paid sectors with overwhelmingly female workforces, such as childcare and school support staff and large employers to introduce a menopause workplace policy to break the stigma associated with the menopause.
When services are procured from the private sector, companies will be assessed against best practice public service criteria, including provisions for collective bargaining, adherence to environmental standards, effective equalities policies, full tax compliance and application of pay ratios. In the public sector, Labour will enforce maximum pay ratios of 20:1
Alongside welcoming equal pay policy, Ms Fitzpatrick also welcomes that Labour will end in-work poverty with £10 an hour real living wage – for everyone, which would ease child poverty caused by the government cuts.
A TUC report showing that the number of children growing up in poverty in working households in the London region since 2010, has increased by 246,554 extra children in poverty (an increase of 68%).
No information whether Harrow West Labour also welcome the policies to address poverty and gender gap in wages.

Politics changes! Many conventional voters feel they have been taken for granted and are intending not to vote. Harrow West Tory candidate chances improve.
Harrow interfaith, building harmony and understanding among all faiths in Harrow, Tory candidate Dr Anwara Ali believes.
“all prophets past and present preached Peace” acknowledges God-fearing Dr Ali who takes pride in religious performance.
(not sure about present ‘prophets’ – perhaps she was thinking of Trump who sees himself as the messiah)

“Peace” is most needed in this general election which is full of toxicity and hypocrisy. For example ‘vote against Labour’ campaign, leading to local panicky,  divisive and patronising video statements.
As a well-known community figure in Tower Hamlets and being Conservative friend of Bangladesh and Pakistan, Dr Ali is well supported by the Muslim community, particularly through the Conservative Muslim Forum.
She is an active volunteer of a Muslim Charity working to alleviate child poverty across the globe.
“I will be a fresh of pair eyes with a new vision. Using my skills and experience, gained both nationally and internationally, I will take Harrow West forward into the 21st Century” said Dr Ali.
Dr Ali is chasing 13,000 majority in Harrow West that had 13.9% i.e. 11,069 Muslim population at the 2011 Census but now significantly increased.
After attending Harrow Mencap hustings, Dr Ali acknowledged the pioneering charity which is doing a fantastic job with residents who suffer with learning disability and physical disability.
“I am looking forward to working with them to improve the lives of our residents – that is why I entered politics to make a difference, and Harrow Mencap are doing exactly that” said Dr Ali.

LBC obtained dossier of ten serving and former Conservative councillors who have made or shared Islamophobic comments on social media – one of them is Belmont (Harrow) councillor Anjana Patel who despite her known toxicity was selected by Brent North Tories.
“Anjana Patel, a councillor in Harrow, who tweeted angrily at Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, asking her “how are you going to help?” after Hindu girls in India were molested and converted to “her religion” (Islam). As if it was somehow Malala’s responsibility.

This councillor seemed to hold Malala responsible for all Muslims” said LBC.
The charity TellMAMA who monitors hate/racist/Islamophobic incidents said: “This is clearly unacceptable and we have to question how did these councillors become councillors in the Conservative Party when they’re promoting a narrative that is anti-Muslim”.
Harrow Monitoring Group has been expressing concerns about such a divisive MP and some councillors which Harrow East Conservative Association selects and nurtures  – and as they have not acted upon, they are a part of the problem.
“But also, the councillors that have had their accounts taken down, what are the procedures and investigations that have been put in place to address their mindset?” added TellMAMA.
Cllr Anjana Patel took her twitter account down but before that, screen shots of her several toxic tweets have been saved.
A Conservative party spokesman said to the LBC: “We had already been made aware of the cases in this document and have already concluded the relevant investigations which have resulted in a range of sanctions, including expulsions”.
Harrow is already suffering from the hate campaign ‘vote against Labour’ by some and could do well without more divisive Tories like Cllr Anjana Patel and Bob Blackman for whom she facilitates temple tours.

“We have a mental health crisis with our young people – here in Harrow and around the country. Counselling is a valuable tool in helping young people to be more resilient, stay out of trouble and build healthier, happier relationships” said Pamela Fitzpatrick, Harrow East Labour candidate, in welcoming Labour plans for a counsellor in every secondary schools, including in Harrow.
To deliver real change for young people’s mental health, Labour has pledged an additional £845 million per year for a Healthy Young Minds plan to recruit almost 3,500 qualified, on-site secondary school counsellors to ensure accessible pathways to mental health support.
“This is what real change for young people looks like – and it’s what the next Labour government will deliver” Pamela Fitzpatrick added.
Announcing the Healthy Young Minds plan, Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, said: “As a country, we have to start treating mental health as seriously as physical health. If we don’t help our young people, we are not only failing them, but storing up problems for the future for a whole generation”.
The number of children experiencing mental health problems is increasing, with one in eight 5 to 19 year olds diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder in 2017. An estimated 95 per cent of teachers believe that they have taught a child experiencing anxiety, while 60 per cent believe that at least one of the children they have taught are self-harming.

Researcher for the Harrow Monitoring Group who is a retired inspector of schools, inspecting for Ofsted, said, “good pastoral care arrangements in schools helpfully supplement academic care – it can only be good for the schools to have in house professional counselling”.
Regarding the other aspects of children welfare, Labour will provide 30 hours of free childcare to all 2 to 4 year olds, open 1000 new Sure Start centres, cut class sizes for all 5, 6 and 7 year olds, scrap SATs for key stage 1 and 2 and provide free school meals to all primary school children.
The  Institute for Fiscal Studies research found that where Sure Start offered high levels of service in poor neighbourhoods in England, visits to hospital to treat injuries fell among all children of primary school age, and by a third of all 11-year-olds.