The regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate is one of the longest standing issues which my constituents contact me about.

This week the Government has refused £180 million of PFI funding to re-build the next phase of over 800 homes on the Estate and local residents are "devastated".

After many years, all the work done and all the progress which has been made, it is bitterly disappointing that the Government have pulled the plug on the Aylesbury funding - weeks before it was expected to be approved.

This project would mean long awaited new homes and important jobs in building and construction. People still need these homes and the economy is still fragile.

Working with Southwark Council I am calling on the Government to change their mind. This is a bad decision by the Tory/Lib Dem Government.

Some of the planned new homes are in Simon Hughes' constituency and I challenge him to come out on the side of the tenants in his constituency rather than sticking with his Government which is making life difficult for people in his constituency.

Harriet Harman with local residents and Cllr Fiona Colley visiting the site of phase 1 earlier this year.