Westminster City Council’s housing chief has resigned after controversially comparing social housing tenants to the champagne sipping Made in Chelsea brigade.
Writing for Conservatives Home, Westminster’s cabinet member for housing, Jonathan Glanz, said: ‘Trust funds are often associated with the Made in Chelsea brigade, the young people portrayed in the ITV television series who spend their days dining out and sipping champagne on London’s King’s Road.
‘It may be a stretch but in some ways, their fortunes are not entirely dissimilar to some of the benefits enjoyed by social housing tenants in some of country’s most expensive areas.’
His remarks sparked outrage amongst housing tenants, and the council has now confirmed he has stepped down from his post. In a statement, leader of the council Philippa Roe, said: ‘I recognise that in Cllr Glanz’s recent article about social housing tenants, his intention was to raise a serious point about the cost of housing in central London but I also recognise that his comments, as reported, may have caused offence...
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article