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When even Tory MPs can't buy homes, how can Cameron deny the crisis? When even Tory MPs can't buy homes, how can Cameron deny the crisis?
(7 months later)
It’s been a tough week for David Cameron: first with the revelation that his own mother had signed a petition opposing cuts her son had pushed through, then his aunt Clare telling reporters her nephew had made a “great, great error” in pursuing the cuts. Aside from the attendant social awkwardness Cameron can expect at family gatherings now, the schadenfreude also shows how even those closest to the prime minister, and by no means socially disadvantaged, are aware of the human impact of the cuts.It’s been a tough week for David Cameron: first with the revelation that his own mother had signed a petition opposing cuts her son had pushed through, then his aunt Clare telling reporters her nephew had made a “great, great error” in pursuing the cuts. Aside from the attendant social awkwardness Cameron can expect at family gatherings now, the schadenfreude also shows how even those closest to the prime minister, and by no means socially disadvantaged, are aware of the human impact of the cuts.
Will this change policy? No: the Conservatives have argued that they have to make “tough choices” fiscally, although the consequences all seem to fall on the most vulnerable rather than the most affluent. But another ally of Cameron may provide further embarrassment and an illustration of how ineffective his policies are.Will this change policy? No: the Conservatives have argued that they have to make “tough choices” fiscally, although the consequences all seem to fall on the most vulnerable rather than the most affluent. But another ally of Cameron may provide further embarrassment and an illustration of how ineffective his policies are.
William Wragg, a newly elected member of parliament for Hazel Grove in Stockport, has admitted he has moved back in with his parents to save for a deposit, as he currently can’t afford his own home. As a fellow 28-year-old working in London, I can feel some sympathy with his annoyance at sinking vast sums into a rented flat with no hope of ownership. Until I remember that MPs earn a basic salary of £74,000 plus expenses.William Wragg, a newly elected member of parliament for Hazel Grove in Stockport, has admitted he has moved back in with his parents to save for a deposit, as he currently can’t afford his own home. As a fellow 28-year-old working in London, I can feel some sympathy with his annoyance at sinking vast sums into a rented flat with no hope of ownership. Until I remember that MPs earn a basic salary of £74,000 plus expenses.
Related: David Cameron’s mother has spoken out against cuts - will her son finally listen? | Patrick Butler
That’s more than double the average UK salary, yet Wragg still can’t afford to buy, despite essentially being on a higher-than-average salary for a couple. Research on London house prices last year put the minimum salary needed for first-time buyers at £77,000 – more than newly-elected Wragg earns. He’s not the first Tory MP to speak out about the problem of housing yourself while rich: Johnny Mercer told the Telegraph that he was so incensed by the cost of London property that he brought his family boat up from the south coast, moored it in east London, and stays there several nights a week.That’s more than double the average UK salary, yet Wragg still can’t afford to buy, despite essentially being on a higher-than-average salary for a couple. Research on London house prices last year put the minimum salary needed for first-time buyers at £77,000 – more than newly-elected Wragg earns. He’s not the first Tory MP to speak out about the problem of housing yourself while rich: Johnny Mercer told the Telegraph that he was so incensed by the cost of London property that he brought his family boat up from the south coast, moored it in east London, and stays there several nights a week.
So we’re now in the position where the kind of people who have a spare yacht can legitimately complain they’ve been priced out of the housing market. It’s difficult to imagine speaking to people in the queue for a local authority’s housing office of Wragg and Mercer’s plight and coming away with your face intact, but it shows the depth of the crisis. Can Cameron accept the housing crisis needs to be solved, and rapidly, when even the besuited young Tories behind him during prime minister’s questions have limited options in terms of accommodation?So we’re now in the position where the kind of people who have a spare yacht can legitimately complain they’ve been priced out of the housing market. It’s difficult to imagine speaking to people in the queue for a local authority’s housing office of Wragg and Mercer’s plight and coming away with your face intact, but it shows the depth of the crisis. Can Cameron accept the housing crisis needs to be solved, and rapidly, when even the besuited young Tories behind him during prime minister’s questions have limited options in terms of accommodation?
It seems unlikely: this week the communities and local government select committee released a damning report on the government’s housing policy, pointing out that right to buy has led to 40% of sold council homes ending up in the private rented sector for twice the initial rent, and that the policy the government are placing all hopes on – starter homes – is both unaffordable and likely to lead to wealthy people lining their pockets at taxpayers’ expense.It seems unlikely: this week the communities and local government select committee released a damning report on the government’s housing policy, pointing out that right to buy has led to 40% of sold council homes ending up in the private rented sector for twice the initial rent, and that the policy the government are placing all hopes on – starter homes – is both unaffordable and likely to lead to wealthy people lining their pockets at taxpayers’ expense.
Wragg and Mercer themselves would struggle to afford starter homes: the CLG report stated a salary of £77,000 and a deposit of £90,000 were necessary to buy one in London. Anyone who believes there isn’t an immediate and far-reaching housing crisis is either deluded or deliberately ignorant. The housing crisis has rumbled on for years now, but one of the key factors in bringing it to public attention was the fact that the children of relatively comfortable middle-class families suddenly found they couldn’t afford to buy and struggled to afford rent.Wragg and Mercer themselves would struggle to afford starter homes: the CLG report stated a salary of £77,000 and a deposit of £90,000 were necessary to buy one in London. Anyone who believes there isn’t an immediate and far-reaching housing crisis is either deluded or deliberately ignorant. The housing crisis has rumbled on for years now, but one of the key factors in bringing it to public attention was the fact that the children of relatively comfortable middle-class families suddenly found they couldn’t afford to buy and struggled to afford rent.
With more MPs struggling with living costs, the crisis is harder to ignore: if basic decency can’t convince the Tories to act on housing affordability, perhaps public embarrassment will.With more MPs struggling with living costs, the crisis is harder to ignore: if basic decency can’t convince the Tories to act on housing affordability, perhaps public embarrassment will.
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