Evening Standard from London, Greater London, England • 14

14 TUESDAY 27 MARCH 1990 100m boost for homeless by John Williams THE Government today pumped £150 million into phase one of the biggest ever blitz on the mounting homelessness crisis Over the next two years an extra £250 million will be made available to councils and housing associations London will benefit most from the first stage with the bulk of the money announced today spent on a crash programme to halve the number of families stuck in depressing bed and breakfast hotels while waiting in housing queues They will be found hostel places or even homes of their own as Ministers launch a series of initiatives Ministers are acutely aware of the damage Anxious Glenda waits for a cue Council being done to the private enterprise image by the numbers of homeless broken families and single people "left in the years of Thatcher prosperity Environment Secretary Chris Patten has won unprecedented funds from the Treasury to tackle the problem and after talks with the boroughs Housing Minister Michael Spicer announced today where the money will go London gets two-thirds of the money being spent on the nationwide campaign reflecting the scale of the problem in the capital tenants will be given up to £28000 to use as deposits for homes on the open market thus freeing around 2000 council homes for letting to the homeless The London boroughs and housing associations will get money togbuy property on the stagnant housing market and turn it into hostels A big spending programme will be launched on unlet council homes London authorities will get grants for refurbishment but only after the work is done so that the money is not on pet council projects The Government said 5000 3500 of them in will be provided by Jeff Postlewaite GLENDA JACKSON was today facing a nail-biting climax in her bid to become next Labour Party candidate The Oscar-winning actress is said to be running "neck and with her closest rival on the shortlist for the marginal Hampstead and Highgate seat Ms Jackson 53 a close friend of Glenys Kinnock is believed to be the favoured choice at Labour headquarters Party image makers think a high-profile candidate could appeal to voters in the "artistic and would easily overturn a Tory majority of 2221 That thinking almost backfired when the actress was rebuked by the former local party chairman for allegedly using her media image to court votes She called the protest Now doubts about her selection have emerged following late and strong support for another Kinnockite economics lecturer Sarah Palmer Dr Palmer 46 the daughter of Labour MP Arthur Palmer impressed members in a senes of meetings around the constituency over the last month Her place on the four-woman shortlist is seen by some as an attempt by the local party to assert its independence and avoid accusations of having a famous candidate foisted upon it The poll is conducted under a form of proportional representation allowing Glenda Jackson: doubts about her selection electors to pick their favoured candidate and name 'second third and fourth choices Until the late challenge the race was between Ms Jackson representing the loyal wing of the party and Camden councillor Kate Allen from the left Ms Allen partner of Labour MP Ken Livingstone is now out of the running but could play a vital part Ms Jackson and Dr Palmer are so close that victory will go to whoever picks up most of Ms second choice votes Former Camden Mayor Maureen Robinson the fourth name on the shortlist is expected to go out in the first round Party chairman Mac Bull said today: going to be very dose and 1 like to say either way Any of these candidates are good enough to win the Leader Comment: Page 7 in the first year of what Ministers intend to be a consistent attack on homelessness in the future Mr Spicer said the breakdown of family life was one of the main reasons for homelessness ami his main aim was to get families out of bed and breakfasts there are 7700 in London "The Government wants to help prevent people especially the young becoming said Mr Spic- er The grants which council tenants can use for houses on the private market are equivalent to the discounts they would get to buy their own council homes The scheme was launched a year ago but given a major boost today and is aimed at tenants who want a home of their own but not the unattractive property they live in It should free high rise flats for the homeless and give a new lift to the sale of council properties COMMUTER iUCXlJIL- prize by Mel Gibson hotfoots it into Mel gives a running commentary MEL GIBSON showed newsmen a clean pair of heels when he arrived at The Hits early today lie was there to co-present the British link of the Oscar awards ceremony with Glenn Close star of Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons The two begin work on Franco Hamlet next month in Scotland with Gibson in the title role Miss Close said: "1 am very excited about it because I have never made a film in this country and I cannot wait to have tea Gibson whose films indude Lethal Weapon and Mad Max joked: not that different to what done he kills eight Also at The Hits were Jane Seymour Jerry Hall Sally Burton Millicent Martin Helena Bonham-Carter and Emily Lloyd Pictures: DAVE BENETT winning Commuter Club number is: 84506 JOIN the Evening Standard Car Club Just collect five tokens and send them in vrith the application form published on Fridays Every day toe publish one computer-selected membership number If it is yours you have won £25 number 12944 Claim no later than the day after pvblica- turn by calling 01 938 7144 Claim the £25 writing to the Commuter Club Secretary Evening Standard Northcliffe House 2 Derry Street London W85EE Join the club by collecting five stamps and sending them in with the completed application form published weekly.