Labour will 'support whatever measures necessary' to prevent another tragedy like the death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale, Keir Starmer told an audience in Manchester this morning (February 23). The Labour Party leader said he was 'absolutely shocked' when he learned of the two-year-old's death.
Awaab died in December 2020 following prolonged exposure to mould in his home on the Freehold Estate. His inquest last November heard Rochdale Boroughwide Housing were aware of the issue for several months before his death, but had failed to act.
The Manchester Evening News has launched a campaign for Awaab's Law in an attempt to make sure what happened to the toddler is not repeated - by forcing social landlords to fix damp and mould within strict time limits. Working with Shelter and Change.org where a petition has attracted more than 173,000 signatures so far, the campaign is backed by Awaab's family.
Earlier this month, the government tabled amendments to the Social Housing Regulation Bill in Parliament to make Awaab's Law a reality. A consultation will be launched later this year to set the timeframes within which landlords will have to investigate health hazards such as damp and mould and make repairs.
Speaking in Manchester city centre this morning, Sir Keir set out Labour's 'five bold missions for a better Britain' which will be the 'backbone' of the party's election manifesto. After his speech, the Labour leader was asked whether his party would support the M.E.N.'s campaign for Awaab's Law in Parliament.
He said: "Everybody, when we saw that case, was absolutely shocked. Of course we have to support whatever measures necessary to make sure that that doesn't happen again.
"I hark back to my previous life as a lawyer. I saw I don't know how many cases where I was representing people in rented accommodation who were putting up with damp and because we took action, the damp was abated for a bit, but nobody fixed the fundamentals and so we were back with other cases over and over again.
"That's why it has to be part of a mission-driven government to change this. We do support whatever measures necessary."
During his speech, Sir Keir set out five missions which would guide a Labour government, promising an end to '13 years of sticking-plaster politics'. The missions included delivering the highest sustained economic growth of the G7 countries by the end of Labour's first term in government, but powering growth by 'good jobs and stronger productivity in every part of the country'.
The other missions were: making an NHS fit for the future, making Britain's streets safe, breaking down the barriers to opportunity at every stage for every child and becoming a 'clean energy superpower'. The event, held at the Co-op headquarters at One Angel Square, was attended by members of the shadow cabinet as well as Labour politicians from across Greater Manchester.
Read more of today's top stories here.
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