Wilson Chowdhry

Friday, 19 September 2025

Time’s Up on RAAC Inaction: Protest Planned as Petition Returns to Holyrood

IMAGE: Wilson Chowdhry at the forefront of RAAC homeowners’ protest outside the Scottish Parliament.

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RAAC Petition Returns to Holyrood – Protest Planned for 24th September 2025

On Wednesday 24th September 2025, the Scottish Parliament’s Petitions Committee will once again consider Petition PE2113, submitted by Wilson and Hannah Chowdhry on behalf of the UK RAAC Campaign Group. This follows the committee’s earlier decision in November 2024 to keep the petition open while gathering evidence from professional bodies and government officials.

Since then, support has grown from leading professional organisations. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have all strongly backed calls for a national, government-led remediation scheme. They have also highlighted the urgent need for reforms in procurement practices and better support for affected homeowners.

What the Experts Are Saying

RIAS: Urges a centralised remediation programme similar to past national repair schemes. They also call for reforms in procurement practices. Importantly, RIAS acknowledges the need for immediate action but the petitioners argue this must run alongside a full public inquiry into how RAAC was handled by councils, housing associations, surveyors, and regulators over decades. Without transparency and accountability, the same systemic failures could repeat.
CIOB: Echoes the demand for a national programme but also stresses the urgent need for reforms to stop displaced homeowners being left in limbo. The CIOB highlighted lessons from the cladding crisis, warning against prolonged delays that devastate lives and finances.
RICS: Together with CIOB and RIAS, has emphasised the importance of a national fund to provide financial support. Without this, homeowners face spiralling costs, unpayable mortgages, and properties that cannot be sold.

Petitioners’ Position

While welcoming the professional consensus, UK RAAC Campaign Group stress that words alone are not enough. Homeowners remain stuck in limbo—displaced, financially burdened, and emotionally exhausted—while their properties decay.

Wilson Chowdhry, author of the petition, said:

“Professional bodies are united: Scotland needs a government-backed national remediation fund, statutory duties on freeholders, and a public inquiry into systemic failings. Without these, homeowners will continue to face financial hardship, unsafe housing, and an absence of accountability. At present, families are trapped with properties they cannot sell, cannot insure, and in many cases cannot safely occupy. These homes are steadily deteriorating, yet the burden of repair is being placed squarely on the shoulders of ordinary people who had no part in the decisions that created this crisis. Each day of delay pushes families further into financial ruin and despair, while government points to reviews and discussions rather than action. We cannot allow this scandal to drag on as cladding did—devastating lives for years without resolution. A national remediation fund is not just an expert recommendation; it is a moral imperative. And a public inquiry is not a distraction—it is the only way to guarantee transparency, uncover the systemic negligence that allowed RAAC to persist for decades, and ensure future generations are never forced to live through such a betrayal again.”

A national remediation fund is not just a technical recommendation, but a moral imperative. At the same time, urgent legislative changes and statutory measures are needed to protect homeowners both now and in the future:

Public Inquiry: A statutory inquiry to investigate decades of systemic failures, uncover why RAAC risks were ignored, and ensure accountability across councils, housing associations, regulators, and surveyors.
Statutory duties on freeholders and local authorities to survey suspected RAAC housing stock and publish the findings transparently.
A national register of RAAC-affected dwellings, akin to the Building Safety Register, to provide clarity for insurers, lenders and prospective buyers.
Finance: Amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to allow homeowners to convert loans into capital-only payments, easing the burden on those with uninhabitable homes.
Taxation: Amendments to the Finance Act 2003 to restore first-time buyer status for displaced homeowners, enabling them to access purchase support schemes.
Consumer safety: New legislation modelled on the General Product Safety Regulations to impose lifetime safety obligations on developers—similar to vehicle manufacturing standards—regardless of resale.
Insurance: Amendments to the Insurance Act 2015 and the creation of a government-backed insurance scheme to secure affordable cover for RAAC-affected homes.
Enhanced home-buying surveys and a High Risk Register for construction materials, ensuring that buyers are protected from hidden risks such as RAAC and unsafe cladding.
“GDPR-style” long-term legal protections for homeowners, as proposed in our submission to the Green Paper on Product Safety (at the request of Minister Norris).

These proposals cut across finance, taxation, product safety, and insurance—all reserved matters under the devolution framework—meaning Westminster has a duty to act.

The time for talking is over. Scotland must now move from professional recommendations to government action.

Protest at Holyrood

To mark this critical next hearing, the UK RAAC Campaign Group is organising a peaceful protest outside the Scottish Parliament.

📅 Date: Wednesday 24th September 2025
⏰ Time: From 9:00 AM (participants will enter Holyrood at 10:15 AM to attend the petition committee’s deliberations)
📍 Location: Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh

This protest will ensure that the voices of homeowners are visible and impossible to ignore.

To read the petition in full, visit:
👉 [Petition PE2113 on the Scottish Parliament Website] (Petition link)

✊ If you are affected by RAAC or want to stand in solidarity, please join the protest and help us demand justice, accountability, and urgent solutions.

Thursday, 18 September 2025

RAAC Homeowners Ignored as Scottish Housing Minister Breaks Silence with Inaction

IMAGE: Wilson Chowdhry at the forefront of RAAC homeowners’ protest outside the Scottish Parliament.

When Scotland’s new Housing Minister, Màiri McAllan, responded to the UK RAAC Campaign Group last month (click here for letter), her words gave real hope to hundreds of families whose lives have been devastated by RAAC. In her letter, she offered more than just sympathy — she pledged action.

She confirmed she would:

Press the UK Government to consider our proposed legislative reforms, including fairer mortgage relief, improved insurance access, and support for homeowners forced into unsafe properties.
Raise our Homebuyer Report reforms with the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Team, and share any responses directly with us.
Convene a national RAAC in Housing Response Group, bringing together council chief executives and housing leaders to drive solutions.
Support the Institution of Structural Engineers to develop practical RAAC housing guidance.
Meet with all affected homeowners in the most impacted areas, including Clackmannanshire and West Lothian.
Hold a dedicated private meeting with UKRAAC Campaign Group leadership to discuss wider reforms and national strategy.

For campaigners, this sounded like a turning point. Finally, there was recognition of the crisis, commitments to concrete action, and promises of inclusive engagement.

But months later, homeowners are left asking: where is the delivery?

Despite numerous requests from residents in both Tillicoultry and West Lothian, no meeting dates have been confirmed. Meanwhile, the Minister has already made a return visit to Dundee—though only for a RAAC Press meeting—despite the fact that the community had already been visited by her predecessor. This has left long-neglected areas feeling once again overlooked. The promised transparency regarding legislative discussions has failed to materialize, leaving local families in a state of uncertainty.

Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:
“When the Minister wrote to us, she promised more than just meetings — she promised reform, national coordination, and direct engagement with all homeowners. Yet since then, there has been silence. Families are asking: were these commitments genuine, or just words on paper? We cannot afford another cycle of broken promises.”

For West Lothian residents, the silence is especially galling. They are still living in RAAC-affected homes, with no support or guidance from their local council.

Kerry Mackintosh, Vice Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group and spokesperson for West Lothian homeowners, said:
“I have contacted the Minister’s office three times myself and residents have sent four further requests — yet no date has been offered. West Lothian families feel ignored. We are still living in unsafe homes, abandoned by our council, and now neglected by the Scottish Government too. The Minister assured us we would be heard — but without action, those assurances mean nothing. This is why I have written again directly to her, urging her to finally confirm a date.”

In Tillicoultry, families decanted nearly two years ago are still waiting for clarity about their futures.

Lynsey McQuater, spokesperson for Tillicoultry homeowners, said:
“We have asked four times for a meeting, and still nothing. Families are paying mortgages on empty homes while watching them deteriorate. When the Minister promised to meet us, we believed she was genuine. But every week of silence makes it harder to trust those assurances.”

The UK RAAC Campaign Group has made clear that residents are not just seeking sympathy — they are demanding transparency, equality, and delivery.

In a renewed attempt to secure the promised engagement, both Kerry Mackintosh and Lynsey McQuater have written again to the Minister’s office to request dates for meetings in their communities. Their efforts have been reinforced by local MSP Keith Brown, who represents Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, who has also contacted the Minister to press for urgent confirmation. Together, they are seeking to hold her to the commitments she herself made — commitments that, without timely follow-through, increasingly risk appearing hollow. Read Keith Brown's letter (here).

Wilson Chowdhry added:

“The Minister spoke of fairness and inclusion, yet residents in West Lothian and Tillicoultry still have no confirmed dates. She promised reform, yet we have seen no progress shared with us. If she is serious about supporting families, she must finalise meetings in all affected areas — not just SNP strongholds — and publish clear timelines for the wider reforms she committed to. Anything less risks confirming people’s worst fear: that her promises were never more than words.”

Until those assurances are honoured, the campaign will continue to escalate — through parliamentarians, petitions, and the media — to ensure RAAC homeowners are no longer forgotten.

Saturday, 23 August 2025

Welsh Government Accused of Ignoring RAAC Homeowners as Crisis Deepens

If you are a Welsh resident, please show your support by signing our petition to the Welsh Government: https://petitions.senewales/petitdd.ions/246606

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The Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, Wilson Chowdhry, has issued a stinging reminder to the Welsh Government after receiving no response to his 6th July 2025 open letter about the plight of private homeowners affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).

The most severely impacted are 17 households in Hirwaun, whose homes were sold under Right-to-Buy by housing association Trivallis and are now considered unsafe. Many of the affected residents are elderly and facing the prospect of living in unsellable, potentially dangerous homes with little or no government support.

Chowdhry described the Welsh Government’s silence as “deeply concerning,” accusing ministers of leaving families feeling ignored and abandoned.

ReGrid: A Potential Breakthrough

In his renewed appeal, Chowdhry urged the Welsh Government to consider ReGrid, an innovative reinforcement system developed by Structural Repairs Ltd that has already been deployed by Network Rail.

According to Chowdhry, the system offers a cost-effective and non-invasive alternative to full roof replacements or temporary structural supports.

Highlights of ReGrid include:

14x stronger than conventional reinforcement methods.
Installation completed within two days per home with residents remaining in place.
25+ years maintenance-free performance, with a 10-year installation warranty and lifetime guarantee.
Lower costs compared to existing methods.
Developers willing to conduct a free pilot survey, scan, and pull test in Wales.

Chowdhry stressed that, if adopted under a Welsh National RAAC Homeowners Fund, ReGrid could provide a swift, affordable, and compassionate solution for the small number of families in Hirwaun.

Calls for Wider Reform

Chowdhry also repeated the unresolved demands from his earlier correspondence:

Creation of a Welsh National RAAC Fund for Homeowners to protect residents from financial ruin.
A Statutory Public Inquiry into regulatory failures and the sale of RAAC homes under Right-to-Buy.
Establishment of a High-Risk Property Register to prevent concealment of RAAC risks in sales.
Regulatory reform to ensure modern, enforceable safety standards in construction.

“Time for Compassion and Accountability”

Chowdhry emphasised that the Welsh Government has a unique opportunity to resolve this crisis swiftly, given the small number of directly affected households. He has called for:

A formal reply to his open letters.
A comprehensive meeting with ministers and officials to discuss solutions.
A clear timetable for decisions to end the uncertainty facing families.

“The residents of Hirwaun—and RAAC homeowners across Wales—deserve urgent leadership, compassion, and accountability from their government. The Scottish Housing Minister has already committed to meeting with me, and it is only right that the Welsh Government does the same. Existing council grant schemes fail to reach many of the elderly residents most in need, leaving them excluded and unsupported. A bold, innovative solution such as ReGrid could provide a feasible way forward—if the Welsh Government is willing to engage constructively and take this crisis seriously,” Chowdhry said.

Friday, 22 August 2025

UK Government Refuses RAAC Inquiry – Campaigners Push ReGrid as a Lifeline

The Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, Wilson Chowdhry, has written an open letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and Building Safety Minister Alex Norris, following the government’s decision to reject a statutory public inquiry into the RAAC housing crisis.

In their reply of 29 July 2025 (ref: MC2025/19353), ministers stated that there were “no grounds” for such an inquiry. Chowdhry’s response expresses deep disappointment at this position, arguing that the crisis is not only about building safety but also about consumer protection, disclosure, and accountability. He highlights that many families, including elderly homeowners, bought their houses in good faith, unaware that they contained RAAC. Years later, they now face financial ruin or homelessness through no fault of their own.

Introducing ReGrid

Seeking constructive solutions, Chowdhry introduces the government to ReGrid, a new reinforcement system developed by Structural Repairs Ltd.

The system has already been used successfully by Network Rail.
Tests show structural improvements 14 times stronger than traditional reinforcement.
Installations can typically be completed in just two days per home, without requiring families to move out.
It offers over 25 years of maintenance-free durability with a lifetime product guarantee.
Crucially, it is far more affordable than full roof replacements, which many homeowners simply cannot afford.

Chowdhry urges the government to ensure ReGrid is formally assessed by the Building Safety Regulator, suggesting it could become part of a national cost-effective remediation strategy.

Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:

“Families bought their homes in good faith, never warned of the hidden danger above their heads. Now many face losing everything — not because of their own mistakes, but because of systemic failures and a culture of silence. To deny them a public inquiry is to deny them justice, and to ignore affordable solutions like ReGrid is to abandon them to despair.”

A Role for the UK Government

Although housing is a devolved matter in Scotland, Chowdhry stresses that the scale of the RAAC scandal makes it a UK-wide problem. He challenges the government not to “wash its hands” of the issue and suggests two areas where Westminster could step in:

Funding Support – working alongside the Scottish Government and Welsh Government to accelerate help for homeowners and prevent mass bankruptcies.
National Oversight – ensuring ReGrid and other affordable innovations are properly evaluated for use across Britain.

Mr Chowdhry, added:

“Every week I speak to families who are breaking under the weight of this crisis. Parents are terrified of losing the roof over their children’s heads, and elderly residents feel abandoned in their final years. These are innocent people who did nothing wrong — they deserve protection, not silence.”

Conclusion

The letter concludes by warning that refusing a public inquiry risks repeating the very oversight failures that caused this crisis. At the same time, ignoring credible and affordable remediation options like ReGrid only deepens the suffering of families trapped in unsafe homes.

Chowdhry notes that in Scotland, Housing Minister Mairi McAllan MSP has already agreed to meet him, and he has invited the First Minister to join the talks following his public statements on the issue. He calls on the UK Government to show the same willingness to engage at the highest level, recognising the national scale and urgency of the RAAC crisis.

Mr Chowdhry concluded by saying:

“This is more than a housing crisis — it is a national betrayal of trust. If the government continues to stand by, thousands of ordinary families will be pushed into bankruptcy or homelessness. We will not relent until justice is delivered and safe, affordable solutions are put in place.”

Saturday, 16 August 2025

RAAC in Scotland: Housing Minister Engages, Campaign Group Raises the Stakes

IMAGE: Wilson Chowdhry at the forefront of RAAC homeowners’ protest outside the Scottish Parliament.

The UK RAAC Campaign Group has received a detailed response from Scotland’s new Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan MSP, to our calls for legislative reform, Homebuyer Report improvements, and direct engagement with all affected residents. One of the most welcome developments is her agreement to put our legislative suggestions to the UK Government and to raise our Homebuyer Report reform proposals with the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Team. We will also expect that any responses from the UK Government and from Building Standards are forwarded to us, so affected homeowners can see clear lines of accountability and progress.

Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Capaign Group, said: “We welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s commitment to raise our proposals at both UK and Scottish levels — but what matters now is that homeowners see transparent responses and real progress, not just promises.”

What those legislative changes could look like (from our submission)

Our submission urges Westminster to:

Amend key UK legislation — including the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, Finance Act 2003, and Insurance Act 2015 — to provide fairer financial relief (0% interest charges on outstanding mortgages), improved insurance access, and property purchasing support (such as restoring First Home Buyer status) for homeowners affected by RAAC or anyother safety defect through no fault of their own.
Introduce new product safety legislation for housing, modelled on the General Product Safety Regulations, to hold developers and contractors accountable for long-term safety defects — including RAAC and unsafe cladding.
Mandate enhanced home-buying surveys that assess building materials and long-term structural risks, to prevent similar housing crises in future.
Create a UK-wide compensation or rebuilding fund for RAAC-affected homes — ideally with Scottish Government co-funding and policy leadership — to support those unable to access insurance or meaningful compensation locally.

UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Democracy and Local Growth, Minister Alex Norris has said he considers many of these issues to be devolved matters, which is why we have now asked the Scottish Government to raise them formally with Westminster through the appropriate intergovernmental forums.

Wilson Chowdhry, added:

"These reforms are not radical — they are common-sense protections to ensure families are never left abandoned in unsafe homes again. We are calling for UK and Scottish Governments to work together, because affected homeowners don’t care which level of government acts first; they just need urgent, joined-up solutions."

Positive Outcomes from the Minister’s Response

1) Recognition of the crisis and a commitment to collaboration (but this alone isn’t new)
The Scottish Government has acknowledged the distress facing RAAC homeowners for some time. What matters now is delivery: the letter reiterates an intention to bring parties together for “solutions and agreed pathways to resolution.” We agree on shared accountability between the UK and Scottish Governments—and we’ve set out that if Westminster keeps refusing funding, Holyrood must act unilaterally. With affordable options like ReGrid on the table, neither government can plead cost as a barrier.

2) Commitment to push the UK Government on funding

The Minister again states that the UK Government bears responsibility for homes sold pre-devolution under Right to Buy and that she will keep pressing for a UK-wide remediation fund. That aligns with our stance on shared accountability—but we’ve been clear that Scotland must not simply keep chasing Westminster if it refuses. A Scottish-led programme remains essential if UK action stalls.

3) A more inclusive approach to resident engagement
We welcome the plan to meet all residents in affected areas, not just a select few who’ve had media attention. Homeowners face widely differing personal, financial and structural problems; every voice deserves to be heard. This is especially important given that early meetings arranged by certain local SNP MSPs were politically filtered, with only their supporters invited—something we challenged from day one. People have been harmed by this situation; they deserve the right to address senior decision-makers directly and without gatekeeping. The Minister’s letter confirms meetings in areas with the highest numbers of privately owned RAAC-affected properties, with residents, local campaign groups and elected representatives invited.

4) A national RAAC in Housing Response Group
The Scottish Government will convene a RAAC in Housing Response Group—bringing together Chief Executives of affected councils and RSLs alongside other key actors—to drive pace and progress. Done well, this can coordinate a national strategy and unblock delays.

5) Practical technical guidance
The Government is supporting the Institution of Structural Engineers to publish RAAC-specific housing guidance later this summer, covering assessment and template solutions—useful groundwork if it’s paired with funding and delivery.

6) A separate meeting with UK RAAC Campaign Group leadership
The Minister has agreed a dedicated meeting with the UKRAAC Campaign Group as part of her wider engagement. We see this as clear recognition of our leadership: the leading petitions have been authored by us; we’ve submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee on Building Safety; and contributed to the UK Government’s Green Paper on Construction Products. Evidence we supplied to Alex Norris MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth) has been passed to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as they continue to monitor RAAC under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Fiona Crichton, Secretary for the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:
"It’s encouraging to see the Scottish Government acknowledge the scale of the RAAC crisis and commit to action. But for homeowners, what matters most is delivery—real funding, practical solutions, and a coordinated strategy that doesn’t leave families waiting while governments debate responsibility."

Our Further Requests to the Minister

Forward all responses: We have asked the Housing Minister to share with us any responses received from the UK Government and from the Building Standards Team regarding our legislative proposals and Homebuyer Report reforms, so homeowners can see progress in real time.
Public Inquiry: We continue to call for a full public inquiry to establish responsibility across local, Scottish and UK levels, given decades of missed warnings and policy failures.
Tailored solutions for Scotland’s uniquely severe crisis: With over 1,300 private homeowners affected—far more than anywhere else in the UK—Scotland needs bespoke solutions proportionate to the scale of the problem.
Practical, affordable remediation pathways: Evaluate non-intrusive options such as ReGrid—a carbon-fibre/Kevlar® reinforcement tested on critical infrastructure, installable in ~2 days without relocations, at a fraction of full replacement cost. This could make a national programme financially viable.
Firm meeting dates with inclusive invites: Confirm dates for Clackmannanshire and West Lothian, Dundee and Aberdeen homeowner meetings, ensuring all residents, local groups and elected representatives are invited—not a hand-picked few. Other Groups will be added to this list.
First Minister attendance for solutions-focused talks: We have formally requested First Minister John Swinney to attend our meeting with the Housing Minister. This is not just another opportunity to describe the impact on homeowners—which Ministers must be acutely aware of by now—but a session to discuss practical solutions, a public inquiry, funding mechanisms and timelines. The First Minister’s presence is vital because only he has the authority to commit the Scottish Government to concrete actions, ensure cross-departmental coordination, and escalate matters to Westminster where UK-wide intervention is required. His attendance will be a clear test of leadership and accountability: whether the Scottish Government is willing to take responsibility for securing urgent, workable solutions for families whose lives remain in limbo.

Kerry Mackintosh, Vice Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:
"Homeowners need action, not just words. The First Minister’s attendance is critical—it signals real accountability and gives hope that practical solutions, proper funding, and tailored support will finally reach those living in unsafe homes across Scotland."

Looking Ahead

There are now explicit commitments to take our legislative and Homebuyer Report proposals forward, to involve all affected residents in future meetings, to convene a national RAAC Response Group, and to meet UKRCG leadership separately in recognition of our role and evidence base. We will continue to hold both governments to account—and we expect timely forwarding of any UK Government and Building Standards replies—so every homeowner, regardless of political connections or media profile, has a path to safety and resolution.

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Ignored, Excluded, and Still Waiting: Scottish RAAC Homeowners Demand Urgent Meeting with Government

IMAGE: False assurances: Swinney claims openness on Channel 5, but still snubs every request from RAAC homeowners.

By Wilson Chowdhry, Chairperson of the UK RAAC Campaign Group

29 July 2025

In a nation that prides itself on fairness and justice, RAAC-affected homeowners across Scotland are asking a simple question: Why are we being ignored?

This week, I sent a formal letter — co-signed by Kerry MacKintosh (Deputy Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group and spokesperson for West Lothian homeowners) and Lynsey McQuater (Chair of the Tillicoultry RAAC Campaign Group) — to Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan. The letter urgently requests a personal and group meeting to discuss the escalating crisis facing homeowners whose properties contain dangerous Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Read the letter redacted to remove signatures (here).

Despite multiple previous requests for engagement, our calls for dialogue have been met with silence.

“I’ve been ousted from my home for nearly two years — a home I worked hard for, that I expected to grow old in — and what have I been offered? A so-called ‘voluntary agreement’ that doesn’t even reflect the real value of my property, or an interest-ridden loan that only lasts 15 years. These are not solutions — they’re ultimatums disguised as choices. Clackmannanshire Council is being allowed to push these unacceptable offers onto homeowners because the Scottish Government won’t even grant us the dignity of a meeting. How can they pretend to care when they refuse to even listen?” – Lynsey McQuater, Chair, Tillicoultry RAAC Campaign Group and frontline NHS nurse.

Scotland’s RAAC Crisis: A National Scandal in Slow Motion

The Scottish Government has yet to meet with the most informed and engaged campaigners on this issue — even as homes crumble, families remain displaced, and uncertainty deepens. Instead, isolated meetings have been arranged with residents from Dundee and Aberdeen — groups less involved in national coordination — while key voices from West Lothian and Tillicoultry have been deliberately excluded.

This exclusion is not just poor planning; it sends a message: "Your voice does not matter."

I was originally invited to a Dundee meeting by the very campaign group I helped to establish. But on the day of the meeting, I was barred from attending — told I could not enter because I did not live in Dundee. Yet Aberdeen residents were allowed to attend a meeting in Dundee. How can this inconsistency be justified?

Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:

“It’s clear to me that the Housing Minister’s previous visits were nothing more than political theatre — carefully staged in areas where the SNP holds a strong majority, and offering absolutely nothing of substance to desperate families. These visits gave false hope to residents who trusted their elected representatives to help them, only to be handed empty promises and deflections. The Scottish Government continues to call on Westminster to fund a solution, knowing full well that homeowners like us won’t be so easily pacified. That’s why they refuse to meet with us — because they know we’ll hold them to account. Meanwhile, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Dundee RAAC Campaign Group have already sold their homes for a pittance, betrayed by the very politicians they once believed in. We will not be silenced.”

To make matters worse, First Minister John Swinney now claims he’s willing to meet RAAC homeowners—yet continues to ignore every request we've made. Please watch the video:

Leadership Requires Courage — and Accountability

Scotland’s Parliament has recognised my work on this issue. I have drafted and submitted petitions to the Scottish, Welsh, and UK Parliaments, which have been referenced in parliamentary debates across the UK. That expertise should be seen as an asset — not a threat.

The Scottish Government’s approach so far has amounted to little more than window dressing. No firm commitments have been made. No timelines have been given. And most importantly, no responsibility has been taken.

Housing is a devolved matter. That means the Scottish Government has both the power and the duty to act. If Westminster refuses to fund remediation, will Holyrood step up, or will our communities continue to be passed from pillar to post?

A Crisis Felt Hardest by the Most Vulnerable

Tillicoultry, Deans South, and other RAAC-affected estates are not affluent neighbourhoods. These are communities that already face deprivation and housing insecurity. For them, the RAAC crisis is not a political inconvenience — it is a daily, living nightmare. Roofs are collapsing. Homes are uninhabitable. Possessions remain inside derelict buildings, exposed to weather and theft. Families are separated, livelihoods disrupted.

The silence from those in power is not just disappointing. It’s shameful.

Political Support Is Growing — But Where Is the Scottish Government?

Even as Scottish ministers continue to dodge responsibility, other elected officials are stepping up. MP Brian Leishman has not only voiced his concern publicly but has also taken formal action. In a letter dated 19 June 2025, addressed to Housing Cabinet Secretary Màiri McAllan, he requested a meeting in Tillicoultry with residents directly impacted by the RAAC evacuations. He highlighted that his constituents were given just a few hours’ notice before being forced from their homes and that, eighteen months on, they are no closer to a resolution with Clackmannanshire Council. He made clear that this situation is “in no way an acceptable one” and urged the Cabinet Secretary to work toward a just solution. The letter also raised the possibility of accessing the Housing Infrastructure Fund, as has been discussed in Aberdeen, to help mitigate remediation costs.

Leishman further expressed his frustration in a public statement:

"It has been more than a month since I wrote to the new Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Housing to invite her to a meeting with my Tillicoultry constituents who have been impacted by the RAAC crisis. Homeowners deserve a fair resolution after going through hardship many of us cannot even imagine..."

"It has been more than a month since I wrote to the new Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Housing to invite her to a meeting with my Tillicoultry constituents who have been impacted by the RAAC crisis. Homeowners deserve a fair resolution after going through hardship many of us cannot even imagine. I am still waiting for the Minister’s reply as I am keen to discuss what people have gone through and how their lives have been changed forever, through no fault of their own."

He also expressed his intention to raise the issue in Westminster after the summer recess and drew attention to our newly launched public petition:
👉 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730731

It is clear that momentum is growing — and that the public, media, and political figures are beginning to recognise the scale and injustice of this scandal.

A Call for Justice — And a Meeting

Our letter reminds Scotland’s leaders that they walk in the shadow of giants — from William Wallace to Robert the Bruce — figures who symbolised justice and resistance. Today, Scotland’s government must live up to that legacy.

We are asking, once again, for a meeting. Not a PR stunt. Not a vague promise to “look into it.” But an honest, respectful, solutions-focused discussion between decision-makers and those living the consequences of decisions made decades ago.

The Scottish Government can no longer claim ignorance. We await their response.

Until then, we will not be silent.

“I am absolutely disgusted by the way the SNP has treated Scottish citizens affected by RAAC in their homes. I’m one of only ten people who won a public inquiry in 2004 to save my home in West Lothian — and the Scottish Government did nothing to help then, just as they’re doing nothing now. They speak of independence and national pride, yet fail to serve their own people with the same respect and fairness shown by their English counterparts. The blood of martyrs built this country, but today’s politicians dishonour that legacy. William Wallace would turn in his grave at the state of Scottish leadership. We must be compensated just as residents in Basildon were — with pre-RAAC valuations and recognition of the full costs of losing a home. Nothing less is acceptable.”
— Kerry MacKintosh, Deputy Chair, UK RAAC Campaign Group & West Lothian RAAC Spokesperson

If you're a Scottish resident concerned about the RAAC crisis, or if you believe in justice for homeowners abandoned by the system, please share this post and tag @ScotGov in your messages. Sign and share the petition. Our voices deserve to be heard.

#RAACScotland #DeansSouth #TillicoultryRAAC #ScottishHousingCrisis #WeAreNotGoingAway #JusticeForHomeowners #UKRAACCampainGroup

Monday, 28 July 2025

"We Will Not Be Silenced": United by Faith Joins March Against Antisemitism in Brighton

United by Faith Chairman Wilson Chowdhry, Delivers Powerful Speech at Brighton’s March Against Extremism

Brighton, July 27, 2025 – More than 200 people took part in a defiant march through Brighton on Sunday, standing in solidarity with Jewish communities amid rising antisemitism in the UK. The March Against Extremism, co-organised by Jewish & Proud, Sussex Friends of Israel, and Stop The Hate, called for urgent government action against anti-Jewish hate and the immediate release of hostages still held in Gaza, now 661 days into captivity.

Among the keynote speakers was Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of United by Faith, a Christian human rights group that unites believers from diverse ethnic and denominational backgrounds. A respected campaigner of Pakistani origin, Wilson was joined at the event by his wife and daughters in a clear display of interfaith solidarity. He was invited to speak at the march’s first major stop, the historic Brighton Clock Tower, where his heartfelt and uncompromising message received a deeply emotional response from the crowd. Please watch the video below:

Speech by Wilson Chowdhry – Stop the Hate March for Israel

Good afternoon, friends.
It’s an honour to be with you today, and I want to thank Yochy, Mel, Vicky, and all the organisers of Jewish & Proud, Sussex Friends of Israel, and Stop the Hate for inviting me to speak.

My name is Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of United by Faith. I am a Pakistani origin Christian and a human rights activist, and I stand with you today because I believe truth matters — and because I’ve seen what happens when hatred is allowed to grow unchecked.

I come from a community that has suffered from persecution. In Pakistan, Christians are murdered for their faith, jailed under blasphemy laws, and treated as second-class citizens. I know what it feels like to be demonised, to be lied about, and to be attacked just for who you are.

That’s why I cannot stay silent as Israel — and by extension, Jews around the world — are being vilified in a relentless, dangerous propaganda campaign.

We are seeing a distortion of truth on a global scale. The October 7th massacre, where over 1,200 innocent people were slaughtered and 251 taken hostage, has somehow been buried under headlines that blame Israel for the suffering caused by Hamas.

Let’s be clear: supporting Palestinian civilians does not require vilifying Jews or legitimising terror. But the propaganda we’re seeing does exactly that — and it is fuelling antisemitism in our towns, in our schools, in our places of worship. That is unacceptable.

What’s worse, humanitarian aid — meant to save lives — is being weaponised to shame Israel. Lorries sit waiting at the border, but the UN won’t take the aid across, often citing chaos or refusing to work with more efficient partners like the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Hamas steals aid, uses it to fund its war machine, and then turns the cameras on starving children to blame Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel is not only allowing aid in — it has paused military operations 10 hours a day in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi to create humanitarian corridors. It’s even carried out aid airdrops — delivering flour, sugar, and canned food — in areas still under Hamas control and allows other nations the same privilege. What other country fighting a genocidal terrorist group does that?

And yet, what dominates the headlines? Accusations. Condemnation. Demands for ceasefires without a single mention of the 50 hostages still held by Hamas — many of whom are presumed dead.

Let me ask: How can there be peace while hostages remain in captivity? How can a meaningful process begin while Hamas — which started this war — still refuses even to allow the Red Cross to check on the captives?

Any nation under attack has the right to defend itself. Israel has shown restraint, even under extreme provocation. The world should be rallying behind the demand for hostage release, not rushing to label Israel as a war criminal while ignoring the brutality of Hamas.

To my Jewish brothers and sisters: you are not alone. You have friends in the Christian world. You have allies who see the truth and will stand with you, shoulder to shoulder, against the lies.

Today, let’s change the narrative. Let’s tell the world:

That truth matters

That Jewish lives matter

That Israel has the right to exist and defend itself

And that we will not be silenced by mobs or intimidated by hatred

Am Yisrael Chai — the people of Israel live.
And so does truth, justice, and our shared humanity.

A united voice: Wilson Chowdhry (United by Faith) and Mark Birbeck (Our Fight) speak out on faith and freedom

Before I close, I must raise a serious concern about developments here in the UK.

The government has appointed a working group, chaired by Dominic Grieve, to define “anti-Muslim hatred” or “Islamophobia.” While protecting Muslims from genuine hate is essential, this group includes no dissenting voices — no ex-Muslims, secular thinkers, or free speech advocates — and is likely to produce a vague, one-sided definition that could criminalise legitimate criticism of Islam.

This risks creating a blasphemy law in all but name, threatening freedom of speech and conscience in a way we’ve seen weaponised in countries like Pakistan.

That’s why I’m asking you to sign my petitions calling for:

A pause in the process

Proper public consultation

A balanced approach that protects all communities without censoring debate or dissent

You can find both petitions, including the official UK Government online petition, on my blog at wilsonsthirdway.blogspot.com, or feel free to give me your email after the event and I’ll send you the links directly.

Thank you.

A Cross-Community Call for Justice

The event began at Brighton Station at 12pm, making its way through the city centre via Jubilee Clock Tower, Western Road, Preston Street, and the beachfront, before culminating at the Peace Memorial in Hove. A vigil for hostages still held in Gaza followed — a deeply moving moment marked by memorial prayers and quiet reflection.

Participants included:

Jewish & Proud – Local organisers mobilising grassroots Jewish resistance to hate
Sussex Friends of Israel – Brighton’s leading direct-action Zionist group
Stop The Hate – The UK’s largest Jewish-led direct action organisation
Our Fight – A cross-faith, pro-Israel alliance of Jews and non-Jews determined to uphold the truth of October 7th

A visible police presence helped ensure a largely peaceful and respectful event, despite attempts by a handful of aggressive pro-Palestinian counter-protesters to disrupt the proceedings. Tensions flared briefly during two separate incidents, but swift police intervention and arrests helped restore order. Once calm was re-established, the march continued with renewed focus and determination. The tone throughout remained solemn yet defiant — a united stand against the vilification of Israel and the growing hostility faced by its supporters.

After the march, many participants attended a community lunch at La Piazza in Palmeira Square, further building friendships and partnerships between attendees of all backgrounds. Chairman Chowdhry and his family were warmly received at the protest, with many thanking him for his courage and clarity.

A Message That Resonates

Reflecting on the day, Wilson Chowdhry said:

"To march today with my wife and daughters alongside so many brave Jewish families was humbling. Our faith compels us to act against injustice, and this event proved that when people of good conscience unite, hate loses ground. We must keep standing together — loudly, visibly, and consistently."

United by Faith remains committed to strengthening interfaith bonds and challenging all forms of religious hatred. We extend our thanks to the organisers of the March Against Extremism and to all who continue to speak out for truth, justice, and the right to live free from fear.