A Labour candidate was a senior worker at a scandal-hit housing affiliation that has been repeatedly condemned by his personal occasion.
Andrew Lewin has labored at Clarion Housing Group – hit with greater than 100 reprimands by a watchdog in only a 12 months – as director of communications since 2021 and earlier than that was head of exterior communication from 2017.
He’s standing towards senior Tory Grant Shapps in Welwyn Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and newest polling suggests he might take the seat the Defence Secretary has held since 2005.
However it may be revealed at present that Labour politicians have been among the many harshest critics of his employer – Britain’s greatest social landlord – together with these in his neighbouring constituency.
Final 12 months Hertsmere Constituency Labour Celebration launched a marketing campaign towards Clarion, stating: ‘Labour councillors across the borough have been inundated with complaints from sad tenants. Considerations raised embody lease hikes and fireplace issues of safety.’
Andrew Lewin (pictured) has labored at Clarion Housing Group – hit with greater than 100 reprimands by a watchdog in only a 12 months – as director of communications since 2021
Labour councillors in east London final 12 months launched a petition about Clarion’s ‘persistent poor efficiency’ together with flats in Bow the place 50 tenants had been left with out working water for every week.
Final night time a Conservative Marketing campaign Headquarters supply stated: ‘With even Labour councillors attacking the owner, how can Welwyn Hatfield voters belief Mr Lewin to symbolize them in Parliament?’ The Mail approached Mr Lewin for remark.
A Clarion spokesman stated: ‘Now we have labored laborious to be taught from any areas the place we might have offered a extra optimistic buyer expertise.
‘Mr Lewin took a direct depart of absence from the organisation when the election was referred to as on Might 22.’
