Local elections this week in RBKC - where do the parties stand?

On Thursday May 5th, every council seat in Kensington & Chelsea is up for election. You can find everything you need to know about participating in this election here: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/council-councillors-and-democracy/local-democracy-and-elections

This is an important moment to elect leaders who will stand up against dirty money in our borough, tackle our empty housing problem and invest more in desperately needed social housing. Kensington Against Dirty Money asked each party standing candidates in this election to send a short statement on their position on these vital issues.

The Green Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrat Party all sent a response. Unfortunately, the Conservative Party, which controls Kensington & Chelsea Council, did not respond.

Where do the Parties stand on dirty money - in their own words:

The Conservative Party:

No response.

The Green Party:

“On behalf of the Green Party local chapter, West Central London, I am happy to endorse your important asks and campaign. Transparency over ownership of properties is to a large extend a national policy issue and the Green Party has long demanded more transparency, not just in the UK but also in dependent overseas territories. We also support the expansion and increased funding of public investigators to tackle corruption and dirty money. Locally, Green Party councillors will make the expansion and improvement of social housing a priority, and we will explore and propose measures to tackle empty properties, for example via mandatory premiums to the council tax on long-term (six months plus) empty properties, income from which will be used to expand social housing.”

The Labour Party:

“Kensington Labour supports the spirit of this petition.

Our former MP Emma Dent Coad sat on the Joint Committee on the Draft Registration of Overseas Entities Bill in 2017/18. This cross-party cross-House committee studied the Draft Bill line by line and was concerned, not only that it did not go far enough, but that without robust enforcement - and the funding of such enforcement - it would do little to tackle this issue.

Oligarchs and plutocrats who have pauperised their home countries, and heads of global crime syndicates, hide stolen money behind layers of shell companies, while they live in unimagined wealth to the severe detriment of others. Those who have no conscience or care for those they have stolen from have a steel fence of legal protection around them. Those whose wealth comes from drug cartels and people trafficking are ruthless and clever, and will take lives to protect their underworld.

The Draft Bill was careful not to focus on any specific group or nationality. Instead it focussed laser-like on those who hide their stolen money in the outwardly respectable property market, which is hard to penetrate but which merits investigation and transparency.

This petition that specifies the actions of Russians in this panoply of ill-doing threatens to target those Russians who have come to London to escape from the rank corruption of their home country, who are as horrified by the brutal war of attrition and genocide in Ukraine as we are. For some, London is their refuge.

A petition that looks at the entirety of money laundering in the capital, more robustly worded and with a full understanding of the Draft Legislative process, would have our unqualified support.

Let us remember that the Draft Bill was withdrawn by Prime Minister May in 2018, to our huge disappointment and frustration. There are powerful forces against this Bill, and a powerful, robust and well-informed demand, directed at government, is essential at this time.”

The Liberal Democrat Party:

“Across RBKC, many properties sit empty, unused by their owners overseas. These investment properties put pressure on an already overstretched housing pool and contribute to the slow death of communities across the Borough. With community assets in Lots Village, Earl’s Court, and Notting Hill sold off and replaced by luxury developments marketed abroad, transparency over who owns and controls property in the Borough has never been more important. As a party, we have fought for a register of overseas property ownership and we will continue to press for tighter regulation of this opaque world.

We expect RBKC Council to look after the communities under its care and to take steps to ensure residents who have spent their entire lives here are not priced out of their own homes. The Borough does not need more empty high-end flats; we need homes for local people including affordable and social housing. Local shops and businesses are finding it harder to survive as long-standing neighbours are replaced by investment properties. It is vital that we stop putting profit margins ahead of residents needs.

In recent months, the Liberal Democrats have forced Kremlin-linked oligarchs out of the shadows and fought to stem the flow of dirty money into the UK. We do not want to see residents and business pushed out in favour of empty developments, and we will continue to fight for a Kensington and Chelsea where every home is occupied.”