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by Anood Al-Samerai on 20 March, 2013

I don’t mind the Labour council leader going off to the French Riviera if that is really what he has to do to get investment in Southwark. Although residents might think his time was better spent sorting out basic services like housing, school places and street cleaning which are currently in chaos.

But I do object to the cosy relationship with developers who appear to have paid for his trip to Cannes. Last summer, the council leader and his partner accepted personal gifts of Olympic tickets worth £1600 each from LendLease. These were the developers whose Elephant and Castle planning application was due for a decision a few weeks later.

Now apparently the Labour Leader accepts foreign trips from these developers as well. His records on the council website show that he has accepted a huge number personal perks from different developers, including dinner at the Ivy!

And it wouldn’t be so bad if the leader’s cosy relationships were actually producing results for Southwark residents. But we have seen a rushed deal at the Elephant without enough affordable homes for local people. We are seeing developers all over the borough get away without providing enough social housing. We’re constantly told that these poor developers need to make millions in profits. Well if they spent less money on Olympic tickets and posh dinners for Labour councillors, maybe they could afford more social housing.

Labour in government were too friendly with banks. On the council they are too close to big developers. I don’t believe in an old boys’ network set in swanky restaurants. As someone who grew up in Southwark I know the value of honest straight talking. I just don’t think you can negotiate tough on the side of residents if you’re accepting expensive personal gifts at the same time. And I want to fight for a borough where local people can afford to live – not one where elected representatives live the high life.

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