Opinion: Lee Anderson's Weekly Column
Our campaign to stop HMOs in Ashfield reached a milestone last week. The Ashfield Independents have caved in to public pressure following our petition that has reached thousands of signatures from residents all over Ashfield.
Our Reform UK Councillors in Ashfield initially requested an Extraordinary Meeting of Ashfield District Council to vote on a motion that would introduce Article 4 Directions that would withdraw permitted development rights for dwellings to become HMOs, so that they would require planning permission. I also wrote a public letter urging Council Leader Jason Zadrozny and his party to get on board with our campaign after Reform UK Councillors successfully passed a similar motion in Bassetlaw.
We were initially ignored, but the Ashfield Independents have now bowed to public pressure from the thousands of Ashfield residents who signed our petition. A report has been commissioned for Ashfield District Council's Cabinet Meeting on 22nd September under Cllr Zadrozny's portfolio, recommending the introduction of Article 4 Directions for areas of the district where evidence demonstrates any significant concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and for public consultation to take place on any proposed direction. I believe that the Article 4 Directions should be used for all HMOs in Ashfield, however this is certainly a step in the right direction, and a victory for residents.
Last week, my Reform UK colleagues and I in the House of Commons voted against the Chagos Islands surrender Bill in the second reading. This is the worst deal in history. Under this deal, The Chagos Islands will be handed over to Mauritius, and Britain will have to pay Mauritius £101million per year for 99 years. If inflation averages at 3%, this will cost the UK over £50billion. The UK gets nothing from this deal, Keir Starmer has just completely surrendered to Mauritius. Under Keir Starmer, The UK is becoming a laughing stock on the world stage.
My thoughts and prayers this week have very much been with the family and friends of Charlie Kirk, who was brutally gunned down and assassinated whilst speaking at an event in Utah last week. I never met Charlie personally, but I have worked with Turning Point, an organisation which he founded, which Charlie grew into a huge political movement amongst young people in both the UK and the US. Charlie Kirk is now a martyr for free speech and democracy. I send my deepest condolences to the young family and friends he has left behind, and may he rest in peace.