YouSaid · the spoken record

Kwajo Tweneboa

lines on the record: 54
first: 2023-02-24
most recent: 2023-02-24
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: podcast

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I'd hope so, even if it's a bit. I mean, I always said in the beginning if I could help one person and one family, even if it was just my next door neighbour, then it's a job well done. And I've managed to do that so far. And now that I've sort of built this platform, I want to help as many people as possible because I've climbed up that ladder and I want to help as many people up as possible.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, I mean, they've had to carry out repairs. I would have hoped. I've still got issues with mold in my house at the moment, but that I'm sure will be dealt with. But in terms of my friendship group, where I am, it's no different to where I was two years ago not taken into consideration. Obviously, I'm on here speaking with you now, and I do go to Westminster, and I do talk, speak to politicians. I still remember where I'm from. And my life in that sense hasn't changed much. And surprisingly, too, I know I'm here doing these talks. I'm meeting politicians going out and about and being on various programs. But there's times at home that I'm just alone and I like being alone. I like being locked away and I keep myself to myself as much as I can. So I haven't changed in that sense. And I don't really want to.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Because part of me won't in the sense that I know where I'm from. I am very grounded in the sense of the people around me, my friendship group, and that hasn't changed since I started. They keep me very, very grounded.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, yeah, it has. I mean, housing will always be something I'm campaigning on. I would like change to come about and me not have to do it as much, but I would always be there to put pressure on providers, on politicians, landlords. But who knows? I haven't decided as of yet exactly what I'm going to do. But for now, I'm Quagro Housing housing campaigner and intend to be so for the until it's sorted.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, it did because I always go back to my dad and I wasn't able to help him, so being able to go through those situations and helping other families and seeing them come out on the other side, it brings me some sort of relief.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“There's many, there's many the one I can think of in particular was when it was last year when I went up to Birmingham and I went to visit a tenant who happened to work in the NHS and her mum was elderly and every single wall and door in that home was covered in black mould and damp and her mum had recently had a stroke blind on a hospital bed in the front room and she told me and she broke down and cried and said I'm worried my mum's going to die in these conditions and I can't help her and I raised it on social media and within the matter of days she was moved out and in a few months they were found permanent accommodation which they were so happy with they had a garden and everything and she was just so grateful and I said don't even thank me this shouldn't be happening you shouldn't have gone through this for the last 10 years and it made me feel good no money value can be put on that that's the satisfaction I get and why I continue to do what I do that's the sole reason”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Sometimes you need radical change, I think An extent, I do believe that, but ultimately, I think if I want change now, I have to work the system because that change comes from those in powers. And I've made it very clear. I've made it very, very clear. It doesn't matter who's in power if it's conservatives or Labour or who's willing in Westminster to tackle this issue of poor housing. I'm willing to work with them, whoever's willing to take it on. At the moment, it's Michael Gove. But like I mentioned earlier, if it was Labour and they were in power, I'd be saying and doing the exact same things I'm doing now because ultimately that comes above my political opinion.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, yes, but then on the other end, you've got labour who have gone and are publicly been disappointed with and I've put that on social media where I don't think they're doing enough to represent the people that labour once upon a time represented and people from my background and working class background believed in”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I've tried to keep my politics out of the work that I do now, but I have to say politically I'm disappointed by all parties and I've made that. I think on one hand, taking out housing, I've been, and I think a lot of people up and down the country have been disappointed with the Conservatives for not just the last year, but many years.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That is it. I mean, even if I was to become an MP today in a year's time, I couldn't then turn around and then say, oh yeah, I still completely understand. I'd want to because I want to continue the campaigning work. But they've been in politics for a while now and I don't think they can be naive in the sense that they don't live the same life that they used to and things have got progressively worse for people from working class backgrounds and disadvantaged backgrounds. That's just a fact I see it every day, especially with the cost of living crisis. What I'd like to see is people who have gone through it recently get in there, be listened to, be able to go head to head with people currently in Westminster and demand that they are listened to and change are created that genuinely benefit them. Because I think policies that are created now are created by politicians in the hope that we will fix it or their belief that they will fix it. But I don't truly believe you can create perfect policies until you speak.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Who knows? I mean, I've been the idea of mayor would be nice, not just because of the title, but because of the work that can be done and not just housing, but other areas that I don't think has been prioritized or dealt with in the right way up until this point. And I think I come from a different perspective than some other politicians or different backgrounds. And I don't think there's enough representation. We talk about representation and diversity and it's very much a tick box exercise in Westminster. We talk about race. We talk about background and those sorts of things. What we don't take into consideration is class. And I don't think there's any class diversity in Westminster at all. I think there's more class diversity and a loaf of bread than there is in Westminster. And I think that's something that needs to be worked on. How can you truly be representative of everyone in the UK if you're not representative of those that are from working class backgrounds?”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I don't know, it's been talk about that, you know. When I was younger, I never thought I would get into politics. But since doing this work, I've been telling myself that sometimes if you want change, you have to be the change and you have to go in there and try your best in order to do that.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Which would make a difference. Yeah, I think changes to regulation, which they're talking about bringing through legislation, I think holding landlords to account not just in the public sector but private sector too. And I'd say not just financially fining them and giving them a slap on the wrist. I mean criminally, I think charges need to be brought about, especially in cases like AWB, where innocent individuals are dying as a direct result of the poor conditions they're living in that can be directly linked. I think there should be criminal charges brought about because if it was any other individual civilian or it was a private landlord, for example, that would very easily be the case. And I don't think it should be any different for social housing providers up and down the country.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And possibly not just in housing. I'd hope it's not just in housing. I don't want to be here in five years' time, ten years' time, talking about the same issues. I want it dealt with and I genuinely want the government to deal with it properly and do what should have been done decades ago.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Um no, so I haven't. I did in the beginning set up a GoFundMe and I've been using that for the work that I'm doing and travelled up and down the country, but I haven't, I don't get regular funding or anything like that for the work that I've done.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Letter comes in, yes, and I'm glad about that on behalf of not just myself but for tenants because it finally means that there's someone there able to go head to head with these big monster organizations and say, hold on a second, you're saying this, and yes, you're an organization, but you're wrong. And I can prove that you're wrong because I've got a whole list of evidence that is now public and not just that. There's thousands, tens of thousands of people online that's seeing this and agreeing with me and saying the exact same things.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Absolute excuse. I mean, from local authorities, I understand that. But when we're talking about the bigger housing associations that are generating millions in surplus on a yearly basis, I don't think it's an excuse. I don't care how many homes they have up and down the country. If they're using how many homes is an excuse as to why they can't carry out necessary repairs and do what is expected of them, maybe they shouldn't have as many homes as they do as organizations because what they're supposed to be doing as a housing provider is providing decent and safe homes to their tenants. And some of the most vulnerable people in their country, that should be their priority. Not acquiring properties and getting bigger and bigger and monster organizations or generating hundreds of millions in surplus.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“There was one in Essex, and there was one in Essex that I highlighted, and it was horrific. I mean, I've been into Clarion Homes where there's sewage running down people's walls, but there was one in Essex where it was a fairly new build and there had been a pipe burst and it had flooded the entire building and it looked like a scene out of Titanic. I mean, the water was coming through the light fittings and everything. People's homes flooded destroyed and that's the reality for a lot of people living in social housing and in clarion properties and it's not until you get there and you see it for yourself that you realize the extent to how bad things are. She doesn't have to live in those conditions. She lives and I hope she would admit it in an ivory tower and she ultimately makes decisions that affect tenants up and down the country.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Angry because I see the reality you ask Claire Miller when last was she on one of her states or how many estates has she been on in the year prior to 2023 and then you ask me how many I've been on they're going to be two completely different things the reality that I'm seeing the grassroots work is translates completely differently to what it is that Claire Miller and the PR side of that organisation is putting out there tenants are coming out and telling me”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Absolutely. I said that about all the housing provider I've said in the past. I'd even sit down with Claire Miller, who's the chief executive at my housing provider, because I think there's no better experience than lived experience, especially when it comes to changing policies or changing for the better.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Do something for me, help me make this better. It's a lot of pressure and it's difficult, and I haven't found the answer to that, I don't think. No one puts more pressure on me than me. And like even when I went to Ghana, I was taking calls from tenants over here whilst I was in the morning, supposed to be on the holiday. And I find it hard to switch off. I feel guilty if I can't get back to people. But the reality is I get hundreds, if not thousands of messages now from tenants and I can't get back to absolutely one why because I'm a human being and I still have to try and clean my house and do the normal things that normal people have to do whilst trying to juggle that with my campaigning work but the change I can make is trying to get change for as many people as possible at government level”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Right, exactly that. When you're hearing people are dying, whether that be of cancer like my dad, they've got terminal illnesses, they've been injured in their homes, and you're hearing that day in, day out, it's difficult, especially less than three years after my own dad passed away of similar conditions. It is very, very hard. So to then have that on top of just backlash. And I'm very thick-skinned, but to have that, I just thought to myself, I thought to myself, can I continue? Should I just stop now? Am I pushing myself too far? But then I realized I've come so far and a lot of progress has been made that may have not necessarily been made in the past. And will I be doing myself, not just myself, but other families out there going through what me and my family have been through a disservice by stopping now?”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah Have a life. Yeah, I mean, I did. There were questions of that and I did start to doubt it. I started to feel like, what's the point, especially when I was getting backlash from a lot of people that supported me and supported the work that I'd done and said how great it was, but then now all of a sudden a few people turn around saying, well, they'll start questioning my campaign and saying I'm naive. I don't know what I'm doing, don't know what I'm talking about. When that's completely not the case and they've completely misread what it is that I'm trying to say and I wasn't feeling great at that point too, I mean people only see a small percentage of the work that happens online or what I choose to show people. They don't necessarily see what's going on and the hard side of things behind the scenes.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, yes. It's been mentioned as part of the regulation. But again, we have to know how it's going to be enforced and how strict it's going to be when it's enforced. But I was glad to see that.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, one of the points I wanted to raise, and I did my research and I knew he had been a part of education, and I worked in a school, so I wanted to look for an analogy that worked. So in terms of regulation, which I wasn't happy with at that point, I said I'd like to see the regulators operate offstead-style inspections. And that's to go in from the top to the bottom and regulate properly as opposed to just speaking to the landlords and getting their opinion, not speaking to any tenants, because that's what happened in my case when I reported my landlord to the regulator on my estate. And I wasn't happy at all. And he took that on board and he completely understood the analogy that I was trying to give. And he said, absolutely, because what I said was Osted wouldn't ring up a head teacher of a school, say, how are you doing? The head teacher turns around and said, we're great, we're amazing. Here's an outstanding. That's not the case. They go and look. for themselves top to bottom. That's what regulation is. That's what regulation in housing should be. And he seems to have taken.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That terrible case in Rochdale, the little two-year-old A weapon. Yeah, and that was that law came out because of campaigning work of his family. But in terms of regulation and the regulators and various other things, I did suggest it, and he did take on board, which is what people didn't see. And the reason I tweeted that was because if things aren't going right, if a politician isn't doing what they're supposed to be doing, I'm very happy to call them out on that. And I've been very vocal and I've done it online before. But I think it's also important to be as transparent as possible, especially for the benefit of tenants out there living in Dishepair. And say when I believe things are starting to look like they're going right and when I am worried and concerned.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Listened first and foremost, didn't come out on the defensive like I would have expected. And I was ready to go ahead to head. That wasn't the case. And actually, I went in there with a set of a list of points that I thought would help in terms of fixing this housing crisis. And I put them on the table and he listened to them, took them into consideration. And at that point, I saw that some of those was going to be included into regulation that's set to come out. Hopefully later this year.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, and I'm not sure. One thing I have to make clear is I'm not stupid. I understand that there's a difference between saying something and doing something. And I'm more interested in what politicians are doing rather than what they're saying. So I just want to clarify that. But there was questions of that. And I think people have their own opinion of Michael Gove. And I made it very clear in that tweet that I'm talking specifically from my interactions.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Reason I tweeted that was because I was worried that Boris Johnson got rid of Michael Gove for his own personal reasons and for personal gain. The reason I was worried now was because this jeopardizes any progress that was made in terms of the progression of social housing, the regulation.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, and the reason I've done that was to express my worry. That was the primary reason I tweeted that tweet. And my concern and I got huge backlash for it. I mean, the biggest amount I think I've had so far and people were... Beginning to question my ability to campaign and do the work that I'm doing. And that was, I found really disheartening. And it was a bit depressing to read all of that because the point people were overseeing the point that I was trying to make, which was what?”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“He was, yeah. I can't remember how I tapped him on the shoulder or I called his name, but yeah, he turned around and I just quickly introduced myself and said, oh yeah, we're meeting this morning. And then he was like, yeah, I know you.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Did yes, I did, I did. Weirdly, I was on the phone outside Pret because I wanted to be on time. So I showed up early and there was a cafe nearby and I sat outside on the phone to someone. I almost done a double take. And who walked past me? Michael Gove going in there. So I said, he's going to come back out. So I might as well go in and say hi. So that's exactly what I did, introduce myself. And then we'd done a second take when we got in of introductions. But yeah, that was very, very funny, actually. I laugh about even now.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“No, I didn't. I didn't put on a suit. I went exactly like how I normally would. I went in my tracksuit. I don't know how often people go into the home office wearing a tracksuit, but I said at the end of the day, the reason I'm coming here is not based on white is that I'm wearing, but what it is I'm here to say. And that's the only thing I think anyone should be focused on. And I'm glad they didn't, they didn't mention anything about it.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And I thought, absolutely, I mean, the cause is the most important thing, and ultimately the change is going to come from the government. That's the only place it can. And I expected that there was going to, there's this perception that I have, and I think a lot of people do are politicians. And you think they're there to toe a line. And I thought there was going to be a head-to-head, and I'm going to have to justify why it is this needs to change. So I was surprised when that...”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“No, I didn't thought. It was a joke. Yeah, I thought it was some sort of joke. But then I read through the email and there was a bit of a back and forth and then they said he's seen your tweets and he's seen the things you've been highlighting, not just about my estate and my home, but going around at this point and highlighting others and that he wanted to speak to me and meet with me would I be up for it.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, I did. So, Siobhan, who's my local MP. Siobhan McDonald. Yeah, Siobhan McDonough, she did come across it and she did respond and she's always up until now highlighting issues of poor housing in the House of Commons at every opportunity she gets. But there was various MPs, Mayor of London I was trying to reach out to and various others at the time. I can't remember all of them, but I wasn't really getting anywhere with it. And things began to grow and all of a sudden Secretary of States team reached out. And at first, I thought something, some sort of scam or it's... I didn't believe, yeah, I was suspicious”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“At first, I thought because I had tried before then trying to get in contact with politicians, whether that be tweeting them or online and trying to highlight the issue and with pictures and videos and it didn't really go far at all.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Exactly. And I was like, I know it's much worse than this. I'm not going to pull the ladder up behind me. And I said, I know I'm tired after work, but I'm going to go around every single home on my estate. And what I did, because at that time, no one knew I wasn't a campaigner and no one knew of me like that, is I printed letters in school and my school was good. And they said, print as many as you need to. And I printed 500 and whatnot and knocked on people's doors and posted them, spoke to tenants that I could. And it was after school. So I put the letters in. And by the time I had done a full circle of the estate, my phone was already blowing up with tenants sending me videos, pictures, complaints, saying, please highlight it. It is really bad. And people are living in on that estate, far worse conditions at me and my family were living in.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“It was contractors that were sent out by the provider to carry out work. So it was my kitchen. It was to deal with the mice and he apologized and he was sincere about it and he was just like, I'm so sorry you're in these conditions. He didn't know about my dad. But my provider, Clarion did. And that's what frustrated me the most because I was like, we're not going to do this. My dad has died and still you're saying we're sorry Kuejo feels as though. He hasn't received that survey.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Because I thought my dad had died in those conditions, you had people coming in my home saying it's not even fit for animals to live in.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“No, it was quite the opposite. So, the reason I did that, the reason I went round to the estate, and I wasn't necessarily going to in the beginning, but my provider put out a statement and it was something along the lines of, we're sorry, Quejo feels as though him and his family haven't received the service that they deserve. After knowing my dad passing away and all of that, and that angered me. And I said to myself, if that's the game we're going to play, so be it. So I made the decision I was going to go around my whole estate after work that evening.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Can see them, yeah, and it did completely ramp up, and I expected with that abuse to come through, but it was quite the opposite. And I was at work at the time and I wasn't. I was so like focused on that that I was even going around and telling my colleagues, like the individual colleagues that I had known about the situation, the fact that I planned to do that, and they were, yeah, we were just like, wow.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I had nothing left. I had no other option. No one knew the conditions that we were having to live in. Why? Because we felt a huge sense of shame. But I was so angry that day because I had phoned my provider and spoken to someone to ask, where are they? They were supposed to come out and carry out works. And they were so rude to me on the phone and dismissive and then hung the phone up on me that I said, this is where things change. I'm no longer going to contact you. I said next it will be a journalist. My thought was the way I do that is by exposing the situation where I'm having to live in. I have to be vulnerable in that sense. And yes, we might be ashamed. We might get absolute backlash for it, but we have nothing else to lose. There's no other option for us because there's simply not listening. So I went around and took photographs.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Obviously, pretty proud of you. Yes, yeah. No, she was. She was. And she used to actually be my old RE teacher. So we have a very, very good relationship. And she was as horrified as anyone when she found out the conditions that I was having to live in whilst working there.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, I did. I complained. I rang up. I spent more time. And I can say this now because I worked in a school opposite my house and I spent more time in my office on the phone trying to get through to Clarion than I did actually doing my job on some days. And I can say it now because I'm not there and my head teacher now and my ex-manager knows that.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, it was a mixture. I think it was probably the latter. He knew the conditions weren't right. He didn't want to live in those conditions. He knew those conditions either. But there was uncertainty there and I think a lack of understanding. And a lot of tenants that I've come across feel the same that if they complain too much, there may be a possibility that out of backlash their housing provider is going to kick them out and get someone else in or just do something that disadvantages them in a way that means they lose their home.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, so dad was a carer for many decades, used to look after the elder at one point growing up. He had two caring jobs, one in the morning and one in the evening, and he would go out. They became his family. But in terms of the conditions that we was living in, I think he was just grateful that we managed to get social housing because for a very long time we were waiting. So he was just grateful to get the conditions, even though we had the likes of cockroaches, mice, and all of that. He didn't want to kick up a fuss and complain because he felt like he was lucky.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That we were being kept here. Our provider knew that these were the circumstances and he was having to live in there and our fight was trying to get him better at the time. That was our priority. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, when my dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer stage one, I think I was very naive in thinking, no one around us had ever become ill or diagnosed with cancer or passed away near me. So I'd never experienced that or grief or anything like that. And I was naive in the sense that I thought, well, it's lucky we found it at stage one. I didn't realize how aggressive the cancer was. And it did progress very rapidly to stage four in the space of a year. And he went from walking around, being independent, doing his normal day-to-day routine to not even being able to swallow his own saliva, never mind eat or walk. So he was completely bedbound. And watching him in those conditions and watching district nurses come in three times a day to feed him in those sorts of conditions and just disgust and horror on their face and them asking us questions about the conditions that he's in even up until today makes me feel guilty for the fact that he was in that condition but now i'm able to look at it from a bigger picture and see that it wasn't our fault it was the fact”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, so it's a townhouse, three floors, and in the middle floor is the front room, and that ceiling began to cave in because of a leak and it had to be taken down. So it was just beams above it. And you can see daylight out of the brickwork. And it wasn't dealt with over the winter period many months. And I remember just being stood there and looking at it. And I think and thinking, I can't like, how can anyone be paying rent to live in this, never mind me and my family? But it was the case. And I mean, having mice, having cockroaches or not, it was a daily nightmare. No one wants to live with vermin in their home. And I guess you can only imagine the impact that has on your mental health.”
2023-02-24 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kwajo Tweneboa One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source