Photos from trip to 10 Downing Street

 Thank you to everyone attending yesterday.




Text of letter is below


Investigate Jas Athwal

C/O 120 Blythswood Road Ilford

IG3 8SG


Sir Keir Starmer

The Prime Minster

10 Downing Street 10th October 2024

SW1A 2AB

Dear Sir Keir Starmer

Investigate Jas Athwal

We are concerned by reports that Cllr Jas Athwal MP has not renewed his landlord licences.

Should this be correct his tenants may have suffered harm. This is because if he had renewed his licences an inspection may be been triggered which would have led to the reported defects being remedied.

 Redbridge Council is refusing to commission a transparent investigation into whether Cllr Athwal or his managing agent should be questioned. We say this is unacceptable, we say we must be equal before the law, anything else undermines faith in our democracy.

We ask you you to commission an independent investigation in Cllr Atwal and his managing agent to include: 

  1. An immediate Council inspection of all 15 properties owned by Cllr Athwal

  2. An immediate Council inspection of a selection of similar properties managed by Cllr Athwal 's managing agent to discover if the faults found at Cllr Athwal's properties were a one off or typical of the flats managed by the agent.

  3. Publication of the relevant emails from the council to Cllr Athwal and his agent/

  4. A judgment as to whether charges should be brought against Cllr Athwal or his managing agent.

  5. Whether Cllr Athwal's statement stating he refused to let to DSS tenants was unlawful

  6. 6) Cllr Athwal to be suspended from the Labour party while the investigation takes place

This episode has shown clear conflict of interests arising from Councils monitoring Cllrs like Jas Athwal who are landlords. We suggest you set a national landlord register to prevent such conflicts arising. 

 

Regards







Vaseem Ahmed - Redbridge Community Action Group 

Bob Archer -  Redbridge Trades Union Council 

Noor Begum - Independent 

Ashburn Holder - Liberal Democrats 

Andy Walker - TUSC

RoseMary Warrington - Greens




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