Council leader tells Jeremy Corbyn to '˜get his facts right' after comments to Peterborough Telegraph

Councillor John Holdich was responding to comments the Labour leader made to the Peterborough Telegraph after giving a speech in the city on Tuesday.

Asked about the evictions of 74 people from St Michael’s Gate by housing firm Stef & Philips, with the council then moving homeless people into the empty homes, Mr Corbyn said: “What they have done is sold off council housing to a private company, that surely cannot be the right thing to do. Council housing exists for the benefit of everybody.”

However, Stef & Philips bought the St Michael’s Gate homes from another private firm before leasing them to the council to use as temporary accommodation.

Cllr Holdich replied: “If Mr Corbyn chooses to comment on issues in the city it would be useful if he got his facts right.

“It’s therefore a shame that his team and supporters didn’t brief him properly and he mistakenly thought that the council was selling properties in St Michael’s Gate which is completely inaccurate.”