Labour blasts Green Party over hypocrisy in Section 21 eviction row

A Green party councillor has come under fire for issuing a Section 21 notice, despite the party’s pledge to ban no-fault evictions.

According to The Guardian, William Pedley, who is standing in the upcoming local elections for the Victoria ward in North Northamptonshire, served the Section 21 notice to his tenant.

However, the move has raised eyebrows, as the tenant in question is his political rival in the election, Labour councillor Kelly Duddridge.

When contacted by Property118, the Green Party told us they are still committed to abolishing Section 21.

Not leaving until bailiffs arrive

According to the Guardian, Mr Pedley first attempted to serve her with a Section 21 notice in 2016, but withdrew it three weeks later.

However, in March last year, he issued a Section 21 notice, giving her two months to leave.

Despite Mr Pedley sending another letter last August, warning her to leave by 12 October, Ms Duddridge has remained in the property, claiming this will help her qualify for council housing.

She told The Guardian: “I am trying not to think about having to move away from the house. I love the neighbours and my four children are settled. But the reality is, once a section 21 notice has been served, there is not much I can do about it.”

Both Ms Duddridge and Mr Pedley are running in the local elections in North Northamptonshire however, Ms Duddridge said she couldn’t believe that her landlord was also running.

She told The Guardian: “Running in this election has been my sanctuary from the stress of the potential move, so I couldn’t believe it when I saw my landlord had also entered the race.”

Pledge one thing and do another

The Green party have previously claimed in their manifesto “renters are having their lives turned upside down by the whim of their landlords” in their manifesto and pledged to ban Section 21.

When contacted by Property118 regarding Mr Pedley’s eviction decision, a Green Party spokesperson told us: “We understand that Mr Pedley served the section 21 eviction notice almost a year ago. The order was served because his personal circumstances meant he required the premises for his own use.”

However, despite this, the Green Party still pledges to abolishing Section 21.

The spokesperson adds: “The Green Party remains committed to axing Section 21 no-fault evictions and to the introduction of long term leases.”

However, the Labour Party has slammed the Green Party’s response, calling it hypocrisy.

A Labour Party spokesperson told The Guardian: “This is yet more rank hypocrisy from the Green party. Threatening to evict a tenant via no-fault eviction while standing on a platform to abolish Section 21 simply beggars belief. Time and again they pledge one thing and do another.”

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