Reading Labour PPCs welcome new Mortgage Help campaign

Labour prospective parliamentary candidates for Reading, Anneliese Dodds and Naz Sarkar, today welcomed a new national campaign which could help people in Reading avoid having their home repossessed.

John Healey MP, Labour’s Housing Minister, today launched a new national campaign to help struggling homeowners take control of their finances and make the most of the support available for them to avoid repossessions and stay in their homes.

A series of press, online and billboard advertisements will highlight the measures the Labour Government has put in place at every stage for homeowners to avoid repossession.

This is especially relevant in Reading which has been highlighted as a repossession hotspot and will benefit from extra advertising.

Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Reading East, said: “Over 300,000 people across the country so far have received help and advice in paying their mortgage since April 2008 which is fantastic news.

“I have met people in Reading who face losing their home and I know it is one of the most frightening experiences for people. Thankfully there is a lot of help out there and this campaign is about ensuring people in Reading are aware of that. The worst thing people can do is bury their heads in the sand.

“This action stands in contrast to the lack of action taken by the Conservative Government during the last recession, who did nothing to help families facing the threat of repossession.

"Today the Conservatives have changed their words but not their actions. I recently highlighted the fact that an ‘advice pack’ on 'Repossession – Advice for Home Owners' published by the Conservative Party nationally and launched in Reading appeared to be copied word for word, without any acknowledgement, from the website of the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The Conservatives’ pack claimed to be aimed at Reading people, yet talked about mortgages in Scotland and Wales and gave no information about help available here in Reading.”

Naz Sarkar, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Reading West said, “The new campaign will help homeowners regain control of their situation by offering practical advice through the new website, trained advisors at the National Debtline, and other organisations.”