London: Faith groups question mayoral candidates on housing, living wage and jobs

On Thursday evening, more than 6,000 voters from across the capital gathered at the Copper Box Arena - home to the 2012 Olympic boxing matches - for the London Citizens' Mayoral Accountability Assembly, one week before the London Mayoral elections, to demand radical solutions to tackle the city's housing crisis. Groups came from 220 churches, mosques, synagogues, workplaces, community associations and educational establishments in what was the biggest event of the Mayoral Campaign. The evening began with a colourful performance by a Latin American dance troupe, choirs and procession of banners, before the welcome by the Bishop of London, Rt Rev Richard Charteris.

The two front running candidates MPs - Zac Goldsmith (Conservative) and Sadiq Khan (Labour) began by describing their own credentials as Londoners. The son of a businessman and financier, public school educated Goldsmith said he was a grandchild of German Jewish migrants. Khan described his parents who were migrants from Pakistan. His father was a bus driver and he grew up in a council flat and became a human rights lawyer before going into politics.

Both candidates were called to publicly respond to specific questions, on the London Living Wage; Jobs and Employment Opportunities for Young People; London's response to the Syrian refugee crisis and four concrete proposals on housing.

The questions and Housing Manifesto were created through a democratic listening process which commenced in July 2015 and involved conversations with tens of thousands of people. The three issues raised time and again were affordability, bad landlords and lack of control over local developments and regeneration.

Both politicians witnessed short speeches from key workers and responded to a series of questions put to them by religious and community leaders, including Sr Ann Marie Niblock, headteacher from Notre Dame RC Secondary School Southwark, Mark Rose from the Salvation Army, Imam Begg from Lewisham Islamic Centre and Rabbi Miriam Berger from Finchley Reformed Synagogue.

Zac Goldsmith said: "One of the best parts of this Mayoral race has been meeting the amazing faith and community groups right across our capital who are helping solve some of London's biggest problems through their hard work, huge sense of civic responsibility and local relationships. That's why my Action Plan for Greater London commits me to doing everything I can to work with local citizens groups on issues from homelessness to gang crime; violence against women to closing the skills gap and, of course, to tackling housing in London.

"As an umbrella group, Citizens UK has helped push everything from the London Living Wage to Community Land Trusts - so I am also delighted to back your recommendations to ensure more GLA suppliers pay the London Living Wage and for Community Land Trusts become mainstreamed right throughout London."

Sadiq Khan said: "London is at a crossroads and voters face a stark choice on 5 May... This Mayoral election will be a referendum on the housing crisis. I was delighted to announce this evening that as Mayor, I will adopt a Good Development Standard within the London Plan, which will support my aim of delivering a step change in ambition for the building of genuinely affordable homes. And it will ensure that Londoners get first dibs on those homes, while requiring greater transparency around the planning process so communities can be sure that developments that are going forward are delivering the maximum possible benefit in terms of affordable housing and other public gains.

"This was also a great opportunity to talk to thousands of Londoners, from across our communities, about my plans to tackle low pay, ensure that all Londoners have the opportunity to train in the skills they need to succeed, and support strong, united, safer communities."

"I support the great work London Citizens do, and I look forward to working with them if I am elected as Mayor of London."

At the end of the evening Dr Kaneez Shaid MBE, Chair of Trustees for Citizens UK thanked both candidates for attending and they were presented with flowers.

Dr Shaid said: "London Citizens members, like many more in the capital, are facing the real-life challenges that unaffordable homes create. Families cramped into one room; borrowing just to cover rent; and landlords ignoring concerns over disrepair and unsafe conditions.

"London Citizens have a strong tradition of working with the London. Members of London Citizens will welcome the new Mayor and all 800 City Hall employees on the first morning of the new administration by bringing them breakfast. This will be to thank them for their service, and show them London Citizens' commitment to working with the Mayor and his team to achieve change and social justice."

The responses from the accountability assembly were live streamed to individuals across the city, and the commitments made shall be relayed to the 350,000 constituent members of London Citizens; through sermons, group meetings, email and face to face conversations.

The other candidates are: Sian Berry (Green Party); David Furness (British National Party); George Galloway (Respect); Paul Golding (Britain First); Lee Harris (Cannabis is Safer Than Alcohol); Ankit Love (One Love Party); Caroline Pidgeon (Liberal Democrats); Sophie Walker (Women's Equality Party); Peter Whittle (UKIP); and Prince Zylinksi (Independent)

Read more about London Citizens here: www.citizensuk.org/