Where’s Boris? Islington MP storms into City Hall

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Where’s Boris? Islington MP storms into City Hall to seek answers over Mount Pleasant site

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WE seek him here, we seek him there – but where is the London Mayor?

Islington South Labour MP Emily Thornberry descended on City Hall on Friday after Boris Johnson failed to respond to three letters she sent him raising concerns about affordable housing.

If anyone had forgotten what the Mayor looked like, the MP had a helpful description: “Look out for a long-haired posh bloke looking confused.”

Why did she want to see him? Well, recently privatised Royal Mail wants permission to build 1,600 luxury homes on the once publicly-owned Mount Pleasant site in Clerkenwell.

Islington Council opposes the scheme, which has just 12 per cent affordable housing, but Mr Johnson has taken the decision away from the Town Hall by “calling in” the planning application.

After receiving no responses from Mr Johnson, Ms Thornberry went to City Hall to speak to him face to face.

She said: “I have not heard a single word from him, despite sending three letters. He’s decided to step in and not let the council make the decision – but he won’t explain that decision to me.

“What really worries me about this is that he doesn’t seem to understand the situation – he just seems ignorant of the housing need. We could have hundreds more affordable homes, which would free up the lists and help so many people. It would really make a difference to people living in Islington.”

Friday’s drama may remind Tribune readers of the time Ms Thornberry tried to burst into the Postal Delivery Office in Almeida Street unannounced in September 2009, demanding answers as to why the mail was late.

On that occasion, she didn’t make it past reception and was shown the door by an area manager despite waving her parliamentary pass.

But Ms Thornberry did make it into the reception of City Hall on Friday, where she spoke to an official who feigned interest and listened to her concerns.

He promised to deliver her letter to the Mayor and noted her request for Boris to turn up at her surgery, a few minutes from his house in Highbury, on Saturday. Mr Johnson did not attend.

Joining the MP at City Hall was a group of Labour Party supporters, a council election candidate and a family who have been on the council waiting list for a two-bedroom flat for eight years.

Santha Senaratne, who lives in Liverpool Road, has two children living in the front room of his flat but cannot get a move.

He said: “Eight years, we have been waiting. They have built so many homes in that time but there are not enough for people like me.

"They need to help us and also other people who have housing problems. Maybe Boris would understand our problem if he had to live in the one-bed flat.”