In a pointed response to Green Party co-leader Siân Berry, Labour council leader Bella Sankey has highlighted what she describes as a disconnect between Green rhetoric and practical policy implementation in housing.
Labour's Housing Policy in Action
Sankey expressed surprise at Berry's recent advocacy for Labour to "buy the supply" of landlord homes to increase social housing stock. The Labour leader pointed out that her council in Brighton and Hove is already pursuing exactly this policy, as featured in national media coverage last year.
"If Siân Berry wants to see a progressive council buying housing stock into public ownership, she need look no further than her Labour council," Sankey stated emphatically, noting that Berry represents Brighton as a Member of Parliament.
Implementation Versus Rhetoric
The Labour leader contrasted what she characterised as Green Party tendencies toward soundbites and letter-writing with what she claims is Labour's focus on actual policy delivery. Sankey suggested this pattern extends beyond housing to other policy areas where she believes Greens prioritise rhetoric over practical implementation.
Recalling the period when Greens ran Brighton and Hove City Council, Sankey claimed there was "vanishingly little interest in actual policy implementation" despite considerable discussion of issues like the climate crisis. She asserted that Labour is now addressing what she views as previous shortcomings in areas like recycling expansion and city-wide decarbonisation efforts.
Housing Record Under Scrutiny
Sankey offered a particularly critical assessment of Green housing policies during their council leadership, claiming:
- The backlog of council house repairs reached record levels
- Houses of multiple occupation licensing was allowed to lapse
- Landlord licensing failed to be rolled out effectively
"This despite all the warm words and 'housing is a human right' rhetoric," Sankey remarked, suggesting a gap between Green Party declarations and their practical governance record in Brighton.
Current Labour Initiatives
The Labour leader emphasised the work her administration is currently undertaking in Brighton, positioning it as a practical example of progressive housing policy in action. While not detailing specific figures or timelines, Sankey presented Labour's approach as actively addressing the social housing crisis through direct intervention in the property market.
This exchange highlights ongoing political tensions between Labour and Green representatives in Brighton, particularly regarding housing policy implementation and claims of political credibility in addressing one of the city's most pressing issues.
