A recent remark by a Cotswold councillor referring to affordable housing as being for “poor people” has sparked widespread criticism and demands for a public apology. The comments were made by Liberal Democrat Councillor Nick Bridges during a Cotswold District Council meeting discussing plans for 30 new homes in Willersey near Broadway.
During the debate, Councillor Bridges raised concerns about placing affordable housing on flood-prone land, stating, “I’m guessing that the houses underneath the blue triangle are the affordable houses for poor people,” adding that it seemed unfair to potentially place these homes in areas with increased flooding risk.
However, his choice of words drew sharp rebuke from Conservative colleagues Councillors Tom Stowe and Laura Hall-Wilson. In a joint letter to the council leader, Mike Evemy, they expressed concern over the phrasing, warning that such language perpetuates outdated, “Dickensian” stereotypes and stigmatizes residents facing housing difficulties.
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The letter emphasized that affordable housing residents include a diverse group, such as working families, older adults on fixed incomes, care workers, and young people starting out. The councillors stressed the importance of respectful language that recognizes residents’ dignity and contributions to the community rather than defining them solely by income.
“It’s disappointing to hear stigmatising language from elected representatives,” Cllr Hall-Wilson told GloucestershireLive, noting that Cllr Bridges has since been spoken to and hopes he will choose his words more carefully in the future.
In response, Council Leader Mike Evemy defended Cllr Bridges, highlighting his direct experience living in a ward with substantial social housing and a diverse community. He also criticized the Conservative party’s past government policies, arguing that austerity measures and economic decisions had disproportionately affected low-income individuals.
“Cllr Bridges represents and lives among a diverse community that includes many social housing residents. It is ironic for Conservatives to raise this issue given the lasting impacts of their own policies on the most vulnerable,” Evemy stated.
The incident underscores ongoing sensitivities around language used in public discourse about affordable housing and the importance of framing social housing issues without reinforcing negative stereotypes.