Glasgow North-East by-election: Housing high on the agenda for hustings

Nov 4 2009

THE main candidates in the Glasgow North East by-election will go head-to-head on housing and regeneration issues at a major event taking place in Springburn tonight (Wednesday).

With just over a week to go till voters go to the polls, members of the public will get the chance to quiz the candidates from the five main parties at the event organised by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

The candidates on the platform are: Willie Bain (Labour); Eileen Baxendale (Liberal Democrat); Ruth Davidson (Conservative); David Doherty (Scottish Greens); David Kerr (SNP).

SFHA Deputy CEO Andrew Field said: "Housing and regeneration issues have featured prominently in this by-election campaign so far, reflecting the growing awareness among politicians that we have to tackle issues of housing demand and the best ways of building strong, sustainable communities across Scotland.

"With a higher than average proportion of the voters in Glasgow North East living in affordable rented housing, the SFHA looks forward to a busy housing hustings, with the opportunity to find out what all the main candidates would do about vital local issues."

Glasgow Housing Association's General Manager Mick McCabe added: "The by-election is moving housing further up the political agenda and we hope the housing hustings will provide people with another chance to take part in a mature debate about the future of social housing."
 
The SFHAs housing hustings will be held at the Glasgow North Regeneration Agency conference centre (the old Springburn Library), 179 Ayr Road, Springburn, from 7pm.