The fashion designer and political activist Vivienne Westwood joined protesters on March 5 opposing the eviction of tenants from a housing co-operative on Lillieshall road in Clapham.

Lambeth Council wants to oust tenants from their homes so the properties can be sold and more social housing can be built. 

Some of the properties in question have been selling for up to £900,000.

Westwood, a Clapham resident, hit out at Lambeth Council, accusing officers of behaving in an “undemocratic unsocial way”.

Some of the affected residents moved in  over 40 years ago and so have taken to the streets in a bid to prevent Lambeth Council from selling their homes.

Lambeth United Housing Co-Op (LUHC), who manage the cooperative, claim that Lambeth Council is enforcing evictions and destroying family life, without providing any real solutions.

Westwood went on to say, “Don’t trust the government they will try to manipulate you they will try to take your brain away to govern you and brainwash you to stop you thinking.

“These people are still living in the housing co-operatives. They are not going to live anywhere else, we have got to stop it happening.”

Labour MP Kate Hoey, artist Maggi Hambling and comedian Mark Thomas were also at the demonstrations.