A Westminster housing chief who accused council tenants of living a champagne lifestyle similar to the “Made in Chelsea brigade” has resigned after an uproar over his remarks.
Conservative cabinet member for housing Jonathan Glanz, has agreed to step down after he said that heavily subsidised rents on local authority properties in central London meant some social housing tenants were living in houses usually only available to people with trust funds.
Writing for Conservative Home earlier this month, the councillor had likened the lives of those living in central London council homes to the “trustafarian” stars of reality show Made in Chelsea “who spend their days dining out and sipping champagne on London’s King’s Road”.
Yesterday Tory council leader Philippa Roe admitted the West End ward member had caused offence and said he had agreed to “step aside” from his cabinet role by mutual consent.
In a statement she said: “I recognise that in Councillor Glanz’s recent article about social housing tenants, his intention was to raise a serious point about the cost of housing in central London but I also recognise that his comments, as reported, may have caused offence.”
Residents had accused the councillor of trying to force the poor out of the West End.
Soho resident Alida Baxter, who is elderly and disabled, said he seemed to be campaigning to get “anyone who isn’t rich” out of central London.
Mr Glanz rejected claims his resignation should prompt a review of Westminster Council’s recent decision to sell off a car park in Marylebone for a £250million apartment development.
He told the Standard: “I don’t see why it should be reversed. I wasn’t alone in making that decision. That was a decision taken by three cabinet members.”
Mr Glanz declined to comment further on his resignation.
