Russell Brand supports Focus E15 single mums' campaign to battle eviction from social housing in east London
Largely made up of young, single mothers, Focus 15 have occupied a number of vacant flats in east London since 21 September
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hot off the heels of lending his voice to the fire fighter’s union last month, Russell Brand has turned his attentions to social housing.
The comedian, currently remoulding his stand up image as an anti-establishment man of the people, has joined a group of campaigners who are set to be evicted from their homes.
Largely made up of young, single mothers, Focus 15 have occupied a number of vacant flats in east London since 21 September. They were protesting against Newham Council's plans to demolish the Carpenter housing estate in Stratford.
Yesterday, they lost their battle with the council, and Bow County Court instructed them to leave the flats by 7 October or be removed by force.
However, Focus 15 pledged to continue to fight “for decent housing for all”, as more than 100 protesters waving placards and shouting slogans gathered outside following the ruling.
Brand was one of them.
“I want to see homes for people who need them,” he told the Newham Recorder.
“They’re single mums fighting for homes. It doesn’t get any more basic than that unless they start taking organs out of people’s bodies.
“I disagree with people being cleared off Carpenters Estate so they can gentrify the area. What’s happening here is an indication of a much broader story and that’s what I’m interested in.
“If we don’t get involved now who knows what’s going to happen.”
“This story is bad enough, but it’s an indication of a much wider story,” Brand continued in a separate interview with the Guardian.
“A lot more people are becoming activated and are interested in issues like this, because it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
“All I’m doing is observing and supporting an organic movement that could become a wider movement across London.”
Newham Council have since insisted that plans to regenerate the increasingly derelict area had been in place for over a decade.
“We are pleased that we have been able to reach a peaceful, legally binding agreement which allows us to take back the property by 7 October, particularly given the increasingly aggressive nature of the protest,” a council spokesperson said.
The three tower blocks of flats that constituted the Carpenter estate is still the home of 21 tenants and 36 leaseholders.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments