Tony Arbour's "riff-raff" jibe offensive to social housing tenants

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 28th Sep 2007

Conservative London Assembly member for South West London Tony Arbour last night described social rented housing as, "housing for riff-raff". He was speaking at a Richmond Council meeting in opposition to the sale of a council owned site to a housing association.

His offensive outburst caused a storm of protest from Liberal Democrat members of the committee, and he later said: "I regret using the word riff-raff", but still voted against the land being used for social housing.

Liberal Democrat candidate for the South West London Assembly seat, Stephen Knight, who was also at the meeting said:

"Tony Arbour's remarks are quite simply offensive to the thousands of residents across his constituency who live in social rented housing. To characterise these residents, many of whom are older people, as 'riff-raff' betrays a total lack of respect for those less well-off than himself. The Liberal Democrats are committed to providing more affordable homes for the many local people in housing need."