{"id":50462,"date":"2019-01-02T12:13:22","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T12:13:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=50462"},"modified":"2019-01-02T12:13:22","modified_gmt":"2019-01-02T12:13:22","slug":"housing-ceo-brexit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/housing-ceo-brexit\/50462\/","title":{"rendered":"Housing association CEO calls for Brexit compromise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chief executive of Unity<\/a>, a prominent BME-led housing association, called on Westminster politicians to \u201cgrasp the Brexit nettle\u201d, to prevent local communities experiencing a reality of chaos as the UK\u2019s exit from the EU swiftly approaches<\/h2>\n

In a New Year message, Ali Akbor, who has led Leeds-based Unity Homes and Enterprise for two decades, warned that fears over a no-deal Brexit<\/a> or second referendum were causing deepening anxiety amongst tenants.<\/p>\n

Mr Akbor emphasized MPs have an overriding responsibility to the community to establish a plan of action, regardless of internal political disagreements.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnity is not a political organisation and has no desire to become one,\u201d Mr Akbor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut our staff are close to the people we serve and it is clear that the decisions politicians make in the coming weeks will impact on tenants\u2019 lives for years to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am particularly concerned about the aggressive tone and negative rhetoric we have heard from both sides of the Brexit debate, and the dangers this poses to community cohesion. That is why I am wary of the damage a second referendum campaign may inflict.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur tenants wish to live in a society at ease with itself,<\/a> and side by side with people respectful of each other\u2019s differences. This is not helped by politicians who advocate a \u2018my way or no way\u2019 doctrine and who seek to denigrate those who hold a different viewpoint to their own.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Unity chief executive \u2013 also secretary\/treasurer of BME National<\/a>, a collective of over 60 BME housing associations \u2013 said it was \u201cessential\u201d that a Brexit compromise was reached in Westminster.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wheels of government have ground to a halt,\u201d Mr Akbor said. \u201cThat\u2019s not a criticism, it\u2019s a fact. The Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper and the Social Housing Green Paper are gathering dust in Whitehall. We need to be moving on to the next stage on both.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Akbor said there were fears about the damage that Brexit uncertainty was doing to local businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnity Enterprise, our not for profit subsidiary, hosts more than 80 businesses across three locations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ability of these companies, many of them start-ups, to expand and create new employment opportunities is being restricted because of diminishing confidence amongst entrepreneurs. Existing jobs could also be at risk. These businesses need greater clarity to enable them to plan for the longer term and make investment decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Akbor said he was proud that Unity had utilised its 2018 Annual General Meeting as a platform to pay tribute to the bravery of BME Commonwealth soldiers in the First World War, which ended 100 years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose soldiers fought for our freedom over oppression,\u201d he continued. \u201cThey played their part in creating the rich fabric of the modern United Kingdom. Millions of British citizens of BME origin now form a central plank of our nation. We need to continue to reach out, not pull up the drawbridge.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Brexit approaches, our politicians should follow their shining example.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chief executive of Unity, a prominent BME-led housing association, called on Westminster politicians to \u201cgrasp the Brexit nettle\u201d, to prevent local communities experiencing a reality of chaos as the UK\u2019s exit from the EU swiftly approaches.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[304],"tags":[591,276,656],"stakeholder_rel_tag":[],"contributor_rel_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-50462","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-planning-construction-news","7":"tag-brexit","8":"tag-government","9":"tag-housing"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHousing association CEO calls for Brexit compromise<\/title>\n<meta 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