www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 22 October 2012 Issue 1255 Free
WHEN MEN DO MAKEOVERS...
FEATURES P.14-15
Read up on the ‘filthy fresh’ misadventures of Louisa HarringtonSmythe Lifestyle, p.28
Local MP supports students against exploitative landlords “We want students and local residents to work •together against exploitative private landlords” “Students need access to greater information and guidance on the rental market to avoid rip off rents”
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By George Sandeman News Editor Chi Onwurah has called for an end to private landlords exploiting students by charging rent “above the market rate” whilst 4,000 private properties remain empty. The Newcastle Central MP’s campaign comes as part of a wider call on the Government to free up empty houses to address the nationwide housing issue, with 9,000 people in Newcastle waiting for homes. In a wide-ranging interview with The Courier, she said: “We want students and local residents to work together against exploitative private landlords.” “We want examples of when people have been exploited and do a name and shame campaign of bad landlords.” “I’m proud to be the MP for a city with two great universities, the number one city of choice for students. And I think it is part of my job to make sure they are not exploited by landlords. Certainly, the presence of 50,000 students in Jesmond, Fenham and Heaton has a big impact on the local housing market. “Housing associations tell me that landlords often prefer to leave their
houses empty in the hope of eventually attracting student tenants who will pay high rents for low standard accommodation. “Students need access to greater information and guidance on the rental market to help them avoid rip off rents, which drive prices up for everybody. If landlords continue to view students as a cash cow that will pay above the market rate, then they will be less likely to rent their homes to others.” The Shadow Business Minister also gave her thoughts on other topical matters. Speaking on the Andrew Mitchell debacle, in which the Tory Chief Whip allegedly called a policeman a ‘pleb’, she said: “Firstly, I find it really hard to imagine an environment in which you call anyone a pleb and particularly calling a policeman or woman a pleb when two had been recently killed in the line of duty (Nicola Hughes and Paula Bone). If he used that word as a term of insult then he should not be in [his position].” Mitchell resigned last Friday evening and continues to deny using such insulting terms despite the PC’s testimony. It was also the day Chancellor George Osborne was allegedly caught sitting in the First Class carriage of a train to Euston despite only having an
Economy Class ticket. She also spoke about the BBC apologising for their Security Correspondent Frank Gardner letting slip a private conversation about the Queen’s frustration at Britain’s recent inability at extraditing radical Islamic preacher Abu Hamza. “As Head of State, I think she’s perfectly entitled to communicate those concerns. As to whether the BBC should have apologised, it does show the opaqueness in the relationship between the Royal Family and the BBC, which has to be a cause of concern.” Addressing fellow Labour MP Stella Creasy’s suggestion that a ‘zero budget’, a review of every pound spent by Government, should be part of Labour’s next general election manifesto, Onwurah said: “We’re two and a half years away from an election and about a year and a half to two years away from writing the manifesto and what we need to be focusing on as a party is agreeing what it is we want to do, what we want to achieve, what our priorities are and how they reflect the priorities of the people. “Getting our priorities in tune with the British people and making that clear continued on page 8
Embarrassing Bodies to set up camp on campus By Susie May Beever News Editor Students get set to grin and bare all this week, as Newcastle University’s campus sees the flying visitation of BAFTAwinning TV show Embarrassing Bodies.
The Channel 4 documentary, which invites brave patients with (in some cases quite literally) burning issues to confess all to the show’s doctors, will be setting up base this Wednesday as part of the Students’ Union’s S.H.A.G Week, promoting safe sexual
health among the student population. The tent will be propped up outside the Union building from 11am until 6pm for any students wanting to talk to co-presenter Dr Dawn Harper about continued on page 4
Photograph: Mark Summers
All aboard the Miliband wagon
News p.5