Sally Keeble misleads Parliament

2.49.49pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 23rd Nov 2007

Tony Woods, Liberal Democrat Leader of Northampton Borough Council is writing to the Speaker of the House of Commons to make a complaint about false information given by Sally Keeble MP in a debate on 21st November.

'Mrs Keeble has clearly failed to check the facts before speaking. She told the House of Commons that Northampton Borough Council's Housing and Money Advice Service has closed, she is wrong and she should apologise.' said Tony Woods. 'It has been moved to new and better accommodation in our Guildhall. She is also wrong to say that the standard of our housing is poor. Surveys of the Council's housing stock show that the overwhelming majority is in reasonable or good condition. We know though that some of it needs major investment way beyond the means of NBC to finance, but the government refuses to allow councils the same opportunities to raise funds to improve their housing as they give to housing associations.

We would like to work with the MP in making representations to Government and exploring ways to bring all of housing up to a standard significantly above the Government's Decent Homes Standard. Instead all we get is our MP ducking out of meetings with leading councillors and criticising from the sidelines for her own political advantage. The people of Northampton deserve better from their MP.

With regard to claims that the Council has turned away people suffering from racial harassment or domestic violence, it would be helpful if the MP could send details of these cases to me so that they can be investigated, rather than making sweeping allegations which are contrary to the Council's policies and intentions.

It is time Sally Keeble worked with local councillors to get a better deal for local people. I will be writing to the Speaker to inform him that Sally Keeble has misinformed Parliament and demand an apology from her.