On the 5th of March 2024 Barry went on the New Statesman Podcast hosted by Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe - both current or former leaseholders themselves - to discuss what the government must do on leasehold.
"Crook" landlords are cheating the UK housing system to scam leasehold homeowners out of extortionate rent and service charges, says Barry.
On the 27th of February 2024 Barry made a speech in the 3rd reading of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill in which he stated that whilst it “pretends” address the issues" it will “fail”.
“The proposals put in front of us today do not liberate leaseholders… it will be left to a future Labour government to do so”.
On thr 26th of February 2024 Barry chaired a meeting wtih John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and several MPs.
“A powerful message from John Kerry this morning on the success of the Inflation Reduction Act and the need to recognise woody biomass as neither renewable nor sustainable. A privilege to host him and chair the meeting with colleagues.” - Barry Gardiner
The tinkering changes that call themselves the Leasehold Bill come back to parliament today.
The evidence we took during the committee ignored. Leaseholders still left prisoners in their own homes.
After a chaotic end to a day in parliament which intended to be about discussing the path to a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, Barry felt “soiled by the whole thing”. Barry went on LBC Cross questions hosted by Iain Dale. The panel discussed a ceasefire, the chaos around the speaker, defence spending, police numbers and female genital mutiliation (FGM).
The panel featured Matthew Warman - Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness, and former Minister of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Sir Trevor Phillips – writer, broadcaster and former Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Nimco Ali – Chief Executive of The Five Foundation.
On the 20th of February 2024 Barry appeared on BBC Newsnight opposite Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons, Stephen Flynn, to explain why he will be voting for an immediate ceasefire.
All the aid aegencies in Gaza say “they have never seen anything like this in 25 years”.
It is “morally wrong” what is happening in Gaza and it must end.
Today, Wednesday the 21st of February 2024, Barry will vote for an immediate ceasefire.
On Tuesday the 20th of February 2024 Barry spoke against the Conservative government’s Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill which would make Britain “colder and poorer”.
Barry described the bill as a "20th century piece of legislation” stating that it will be left to a future government to fix our “broken energy system”.
Barry Gardiner speaks to housing activist and author Kwajo Tweneboa about social housing, leasehold and the “exploitation” of Britain’s housing sector.
Follow Kwajo on X (formerly Twitter) here: @Kwajotweneboa
Watch LEASEHOLD a documentary by Barry Gardiner here.
On the 8th of February 2023 Labour announced that it would water down its flagship £28bn spending pledge on green policies.
“Economically Illiterate. Environmentally Irresponsible. Politically Naïve. This is the sad truth about the £28bn U-turn The USA has shown a Green Prosperity Plan is the way to grow the economy, reduce the share of debt to GDP. And get people excited about a cleaner safer future” - Barry Gardiner
On Wednesday the 7th of February BBC London reported on the Elm Road fire, which resident Marianne says “could have been another grenfell”
"Safety of the Residents was not [Octavia’s] number one consideration” said Barry.