Mipim property fair only benefits the rich – Collective statement

This Wednesday the Mipim property fair returns to London, celebrating a housing system that puts an obsession with profit over people’s right to a decent home. By promoting this unsustainable approach to housing and land use, Mipim benefits the global rich whilst destroying our communities. Mipim brings global property development companies together with local authorities and other “partners wanting to close deals”, often selling public land and assets. Barnet council gave the West Hendon estate, worth an estimated £45m, to Barratt for just £5. This approach is being enabled by a government whose policies are exacerbating the housing crisis, as the Tories’ new housing bill shows. We condemn everything that Mipim stands for, and join communities and campaigners to say no to Mipim, yes to housing justice.

Katya Nasim Radical Housing Network
Betsy Dilner Director, Generation Rent
Gerry Morrissey General secretary, Bectu
Peter Spalding Greater London Association TUC
Harriet Vickers GMB Young London
Darren Johnson Green party London assembly member
Sian Berry Green party London mayoral candidate
Emer Mary Morris Focus E15 Campaign
Liam Barrington-Bush Sweets Way Resists
Sam Fairbairn The People’s Assembly
Saranel Benjamin War on Want
Amina Gichinga Take Back the City
Aysen Dennis Aylesbury Tenants & Leaseholders First, Fight for the Aylesbury
Jerry Flynn Elephant Amenity Network / 35 percent campaign
Liliana Dmitrovic People’s Republic of Southwark
Geraldine Dening Architects for Social Housing (ASH)
Ben Beach Concrete Action
Jacob Wills Digs Hackney Renters
Suzanne Muna Branch secretary, Unite Housing Workers
Ewa Jasiewicz Unite Hotel Workers Branch
Shelly Asquith Vice-president (welfare), NUS
Angus O’Brian UCL Cut the Rent campaign
Tom Robinson UCLU (UCL-Union)
Sarah Kwei Sisters Uncut
Jeremy Hardy comedian
Josie Long comedian
Rob Logan Community Food Growers Network
Anna Minton University of East London
Dr Paul Watt University of London
Dr Ben Campkin UCL Urban Laboratory
Michael Edwards Just Space (and Bartlett School of Planning, UCL)
Professor Jane Rendell The Bartlett School of Architecture
Dr Stuart Hodkinson University of Leeds