Harrow's 'housing crisis' a priority for Labour's London Mayor candidate

Visiting the borough today, Sadiq Khan said families were being forced apart by Harrow's high property prices and rental market.

Mr Khan was speaking at Age UK Harrow this morning, where he met staff and listened to the concerns of a number of older people.

He said key issues for the borough and for its elderly included housing and transport because children and grandchildren priced out the property ladder were living further and further away.

Mr Khan said his Homes for Londoners scheme would try to address this by making sure half of all new homes were "genuinely affordable for Londoners" so families could stay living nearby if they chose to.

He said Harrow would especially benefit as Transport for London is set to release land in Zones 3 to 6.

He explained the housing problem: "The average person in Harrow spends 48 per cent of their wages on rent - based on the average salary and rent prices.

"The amount spent to move into a property in Harrow - paying the deposit, first month rent up front and the letting fees comes to roughly £3,000. Every time people here want to move they need to find that much money to do it."

Answering questions from a bingo club at Age UK's office in Wealdstone, Mr Khan further assured the group that Freedom Passes would be here to stay if he was elected in May.

He also said the Conservative government had let down the people of Harrow in its handling of health and social care.

Mr Khan spoke of a "black hole" in the social care budget, where government cuts far outweighed its proposed alternative funding methods.

He added that Northwick Park Hospital had the worst waiting times in London after A&E closed at Central Middlesex Hospital.

He said: "The NHS in London is in crisis. GPs, A&Es, hospitals, social care - it's very worrying."

He argued that rather than central government, the London Mayor should deal with health services for Londoners.

Speaking to the Harrow Times about budget cuts to popular social care and community projects, including The Bridge and Harrow Arts Centre, he said Harrow Council had its "hands tied behind its back" by the Conservative London Mayor and central government.

The candidate said access to these services were vital and that arts and culture is also an important part of people's mental wellbeing.

He said should he be elected, he had several initiatives to take the pressure off local authorities struggling to fund non-statutory schemes.

As an example, Mr Khan suggested a London Borough of Culture Awards, which would be similar to the European Capital of Culture, where prizes would be awarded to different boroughs each year. He said the initiative could bring Royal Opera House and Barbican productions and public sculptures into Harrow.

He also suggested a 'Love London' card which would enable Londoners to go to the theatre or concerts in Zone 1 for discounted prices and help struggling local authorities like Harrow ensure residents have access to arts and culture.

He said: "I want to build a healthier, safer London and that's social, physical and mental wellbeing - part of which is culture and the arts.

"I have come to Harrow today, and I will keep coming back because Harrow needs a Labour mayor. A Labour mayor to work with the council."