Council to export benefit families out of London

Newham Council has been accused of 'social cleansing' after plans to move 500 families from East London to Stoke-on-Trent because Newham can't, it claims, afford to house benefit claimants in private accommodation.

This means shifting families a distance of 167 miles. Newham claims the move has been forced on them because of the £400 housing benefit cap for larger properties.