Emma Richmond, now a notorious housing criminal, is as bad as any get. It could be worse if it were not for the efforts of many to stop her getting the chance.
This a story of her battle for supremacy, and many other people’s struggle for justice, amid a cry for clemency in a tough and lengthy political era.
Her beginnings
Richmond began her political life as a “Nazi dissident”, something she shared as I spoke to her. It was an odd phrase to use. It didn’t fit with our political times.
I later found it was true. She had read “Mein Kampf” and thought it was a strong political tract. It was probably naivety that led her to believe this to be an acceptable belief.
Later, in her young adulthood, she was known to be antisocial. Her antics became criminal and yet she wasn’t challenged about it.
A private investigation found she was guided by Nazi ideology more than people knew. It helped her to challenge accepted norms, to break English conventions.
The worsening
Her obsession grew out of seeing a small emergence of fascism in England. “She grew confused”, said a healthcare professional I managed to speak to, on record.
During one encounter, I heard her say “Life, or faith, is immoral – there’s nothing to believe in it”. This was an off the cuff comment, but it stung with bitter truth.
At this time, she attracted help. A number of misguided Labour activists joined her. They moved in to protect her. Then, union representatives took over, having an “interest” in her work.
An unfolding
Her target had been housing for a long time, but rumours emerged of people being taken from their homes under forced eviction.
She publicly attacked a perceived “Conservative built council home life” lived by those benefiting out of Conservative reforms, but also Labour policies.
Many Police officers tried to refer her for mental health care, but were pushed away. These were known to be “fierce” encounters with a bloated health sector.
However, other pressure brought a stop to her efforts. She was incapable of seizing large numbers of homes, and many grew unimpressed. She was left isolated.
