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Russell Brand leads housing estate sleepover on north London Sweets Way estate to protest 'profit over people'

150 people turned out to the north London housing estate

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The Independent Online
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Russell Brand staged a sleepover at a housing estate to protest the homes being sold off to developers.

The event drew a crowd of 150 to the Sweets Way estate in Barnet this week.

Comedian-turned-activist Brand has been a loud voice for the estate and has backed a petition in which the residents are "pleading with the council not to push them from their homes". It has now been signed by over 40,000 people.

The tenants were evicted on Tuesday night in order to make way for a housing redevelopment - which is when Brand staged the sleepover.

Owner Annington Homes has cleared the tenants out in order to make way for 288 new homes, although it's thought around 10 families remain on the estate.

Squatters have occupied several of the homes, which have been boarded shut, and Brand has accused Annington Homes of putting "profit before people".

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

  • 1/19 On puberty:

    “By puberty I learned that nothing worth having could be easily attained and to succeed one must be single minded."

    PA

  • 2/19 On changing the world:

    “I want to change the world, and do something valuable and beautiful. I want people to remember me before I'm dead, and then more afterwards.”

  • 3/19 On being strong:

    "Strength does not have to be belligerent and loud."

    Getty

  • 4/19 On grammar:

    “I couldn't possibly have sex with someone with such a slender grasp on grammar!”

  • 5/19 On manners in England:

    "In England we have such good manners that if someone says something impolite, the police will get involved."

  • 6/19 On junkie v vegetarian:

    “Even as a junkie I stayed true [to vegetarianism] - 'I shall have heroin, but I shan't have a hamburger.' What a sexy little paradox.”

  • 7/19 On the future:

    “People don't realize that the future is just now, but later.”

    Rex Features

  • 8/19 On sex addiction:

    “Boggle with sex addicts is up there with go-kart racing with junkies.”

    Reuters

  • 9/19 On life:

    “My life is just a series of embarrassing incidents strung together by telling people about those embarrassing incidents.”

    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

  • 10/19 On happiness:

    "If you want to be happy stop being so self-obsessed and start considering other people."

    Getty Images

  • 11/19 On drug addiction:

    “The mentality and behavior of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help, they have no hope.”

    Getty Images

  • 12/19 On sitcoms:

    "I do have a regard for the musicality of language that came from BBC sitcoms like Fawlty Towers."

  • 13/19 On life motivation:

    "That's what keeps me alive, perversion and star quality.”

    Getty

  • 14/19 On love:

    “When you fall in love you recognise you're not the most important person in the world, and your focus becomes another person.”

    Getty Images

  • 15/19 On threesomes:

    “I like threesomes with two women, not because I'm a cynical sexual predator. Oh no! But because I'm a romantic. I'm looking for "The One." And I'll find her more quickly if I audition two at a time.”

  • 16/19 On Conservatives:

    "Conservatism appeals to our selfishness and fear, our designer and self-interest."

    PA

  • 17/19 On surfing:

    “Surfing should be called "foam-choking" or "sea stabbing.”

    Getty Images

  • 18/19 On Demi Moore:

    "I've not made love to her yet, but it's a matter of time."

    STEVE MORGAN/AFP/Getty Images

  • 19/19 On success:

    "When I was growing up, I thought I'd be a lot happier if I was famous and successful and if I had money."

    Getty Images

 

Despite conceding that for many it was "bloody miles away", Brand promised "a fun night of coming together to protect the Sweets Way Estate" and said he's be there in a sleeping bag along with former residents.

Annington Homes has responded to the protest, maintaining that the evictions will ultimately lead to more homes. "Annington very much supports the argument for more homes, both in London and elsewhere, although there is a need for development to achieve this," a spokesperson said.

"It is regrettable when homes need to be demolished, but Annington’s decision to redevelop the estate will see an increase in the number of homes by more than 100%, from 142 to 288, and the inclusion of 20% affordable homes will see a minimum of 59 created where there were none before.

"Annington has commenced court proceedings to obtain a possession order so that it can evict the squatters and take back possession of the property."

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