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Proof that Russell Brand's revolution may actually be working

For the cynics among you, some evidence the comedian's relentless social campaigning is already starting to pay off

Friday 19 December 2014 09:52 GMT

For all his exuberant mannerisms, superfluous rhetoric and apathetic attitude towards voting, it appears Russell Brand has scored his first big campaign win.

The US investors who planned to evict scores of families from the New Era estate in East London so that they could build an up-market development there are on the verge of selling up and moving on.

And the buyer they are thinking of taking up is an affordable housing provider.

Westbrook Partners are thought to be close to sealing the deal with London’s deputy mayor, Richard Blakeway, and the elected mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, after negotiation talks this week, the Guardian has reported.

City Hall apparently expects the transfer to be complete before Christmas.

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

Show all 19

1/19Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On puberty:

“By puberty I learned that nothing worth having could be easily attained and to succeed one must be single minded."

PA

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On changing the world:

“I want to change the world, and do something valuable and beautiful. I want people to remember me before I'm dead, and then more afterwards.”

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On being strong:

"Strength does not have to be belligerent and loud."

Getty

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On grammar:

“I couldn't possibly have sex with someone with such a slender grasp on grammar!”

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On manners in England:

"In England we have such good manners that if someone says something impolite, the police will get involved."

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On junkie v vegetarian:

“Even as a junkie I stayed true [to vegetarianism] - 'I shall have heroin, but I shan't have a hamburger.' What a sexy little paradox.”

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On the future:

“People don't realize that the future is just now, but later.”

Rex Features

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On sex addiction:

“Boggle with sex addicts is up there with go-kart racing with junkies.”

Reuters

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On life:

“My life is just a series of embarrassing incidents strung together by telling people about those embarrassing incidents.”

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On happiness:

"If you want to be happy stop being so self-obsessed and start considering other people."

Getty Images

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On drug addiction:

“The mentality and behavior of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help, they have no hope.”

Getty Images

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On sitcoms:

"I do have a regard for the musicality of language that came from BBC sitcoms like Fawlty Towers."

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On life motivation:

"That's what keeps me alive, perversion and star quality.”

Getty

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On love:

“When you fall in love you recognise you're not the most important person in the world, and your focus becomes another person.”

Getty Images

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On threesomes:

“I like threesomes with two women, not because I'm a cynical sexual predator. Oh no! But because I'm a romantic. I'm looking for "The One." And I'll find her more quickly if I audition two at a time.”

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On Conservatives:

"Conservatism appeals to our selfishness and fear, our designer and self-interest."

PA

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On surfing:

“Surfing should be called "foam-choking" or "sea stabbing.”

Getty Images

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On Demi Moore:

"I've not made love to her yet, but it's a matter of time."

STEVE MORGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips

On success:

"When I was growing up, I thought I'd be a lot happier if I was famous and successful and if I had money."

Getty Images

The news follows a vocal campaign by Brand and the residents of the New Era estate, that included multiple street demonstrations, a petition signed by thousands and a march on Downing Street that ended with this rant at a Channel 4 News presenter going viral:

The incident spurred a particularly hostile front page from The Sun, who labelled the comedian a “Hypocrite” for paying rent to a company who they claimed avoided tax.

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