Newbury MP hits back at Russell Brand in 'eviction' row

As the Newbury Weekly News reported in June, Mr Benyon’s family business, the Benyon Estate, is part of a consortium that has purchased flats on the New Era Estate in Hoxton.
The consortium has since informed residents that it will need to increase rent prices in order to fund the refurbishment of the run-down flats.
The flats were acquired by American fund management firm Westbrook Partners, which has appointed the Benyon Estate to manage them.
On Saturday, comedian and self-proclaimed revolutionary Russell Brand joined a group of residents from the New Era Estate in protest, posting fake ‘eviction notices’ on the offices of the Benyon Estate in London.
However, Mr Benyon said on Tuesday: “My family business, which my brother runs, has a nine-per-cent holding in the properties.
“My family business have been the good guys in all of this, we are trying to delay the inevitable.
“The flats are in a dreadful condition and if nothing was done by anybody, the building’s condition would worsen and deteriorate even further.
“It is not a good situation for anybody, but we are trying to make a good situation better. It would be an infinitely worse situation if we pulled out.”
Last Wednesday, Mr Brand posted a message to his eight million Twitter followers, saying: “Does @RichardBenyonMP (the richest MP in UK) need more profit so badly that 92 families should be made homeless?”
He later posted on his website: “In Hoxton, East London there is a diabolical situation that we need your help with. The New Era estate provided affordable homes for ordinary working families.
“If the Benyons get their way, an entire community will be forced into B&Bs all over the country.”
Mr Brand’s actions attracted the attention of many national newspapers and the video of him protesting has gone viral.
Mr Benyon said: “Intervention by celebrities and others has made this process very difficult indeed."
For the full story, pick up a copy of today's Newbury Weekly News.