Ealing Citizens Accountability Assembly Draws Hundreds to Call for Action on Housing, Jobs and Fair Pay

Ealing Citizens Accountability Assembly Draws Hundreds to Call for Action on Housing, Jobs and Fair Pay

On 28 April 2026, Ealing Citizens brought together over 270 residents from across the borough at St Anselm's Church, Southall, in a powerful Accountability Assembly, securing commitments from Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative council candidates to deliver on the community’s top priorities.

The Assembly, held ahead of the May 2026 local elections, united schools, faith groups and community organisations representing over 15,000 people. After 18 months of listening and research involving hundreds of residents, Ealing Citizens presented a clear agenda rooted in powerful testimonies from residents directly affected by poor housing, insecure work and limited job opportunities, underlining the urgency of the issues. These stories were at the heart of the evening, ensuring that commitments were grounded in real experiences.

The candidates invited were Peter Mason for the Labour Party, Gary Malcolm for the Liberal Democrats and Julian Gallant for the Conservatives.

Young people and parents spoke about the impact of long stays in temporary accommodation. Iryna, a parent from Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School living in temporary accommodation said: “My son sleeps in a damp room and is often unwell. We do not feel safe or healthy in this home. I am not asking for luxury—only a safe, stable, healthy home for my children.”

Ealing Citizens set out a clear agenda to eventually end the use of temporary accommodation, while calling for immediate protections for families. These included access to basic facilities such as cooking space, laundry, Wi‑Fi and secure storage, as well as commitments to place children close to their schools.

Renters also shared experiences of damp, mould, poor repairs and unsafe living conditions. In response, Ealing Citizens called for tougher council action against rogue landlords, including expanding selective licensing across the borough and making Ealing a leader in delivering energy‑efficiency upgrades through the Warm Homes Plan.

Workers and young people spoke about low pay, zero‑hour contracts and difficulties finding work. Almost a quarter of jobs in Ealing are still paid below the real Living Wage. Community leaders pushed for the council to develop a Living Hours plan to tackle insecure work.

Speakers also called for an Ealing Community Jobs Compact — a partnership between the council, employers, colleges and community groups — to create clearer routes into jobs, apprenticeships and training.

The event marks a major milestone for Ealing Citizens and builds on a strong track record of winning change across West London, including pay rises for thousands of workers.

Ealing Citizens will now build on this momentum by following up on all commitments made and continue to organise with its member organisations in the months ahead.