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Tories forced to admit they won’t spend any new money on social housing plan | Tories forced to admit they won’t spend any new money on social housing plan |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Conservatives will increase the number of homes for social rent with a new right-to-buy scheme, Theresa May has announced. | The Conservatives will increase the number of homes for social rent with a new right-to-buy scheme, Theresa May has announced. |
Ministers have since confirmed no new money will be spent on the scheme, which will be funded through cash promised in last year's Autumn Statement. | Ministers have since confirmed no new money will be spent on the scheme, which will be funded through cash promised in last year's Autumn Statement. |
The Tories have pledged to build “a new generation of fixed-term, high quality council homes”, a proportion of which would be resold after ten to fifteen years, with the tenant being given the first option to buy. | The Tories have pledged to build “a new generation of fixed-term, high quality council homes”, a proportion of which would be resold after ten to fifteen years, with the tenant being given the first option to buy. |
The policy announcement refers to “thousands of new homes”, but the Conservatives could not confirm how many new homes would be built under the new scheme. | The policy announcement refers to “thousands of new homes”, but the Conservatives could not confirm how many new homes would be built under the new scheme. |
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis told Andrew Neil on Sunday Politics the number of homes “would depend on negotiations with local authorities”. | Housing Minister Brandon Lewis told Andrew Neil on Sunday Politics the number of homes “would depend on negotiations with local authorities”. |
Shadow Housing Minister John Healey denounced the plans as “political spin, with no substance.” | Shadow Housing Minister John Healey denounced the plans as “political spin, with no substance.” |
“There’s no commitment on the number of new affordable homes or on new funding. | “There’s no commitment on the number of new affordable homes or on new funding. |
“Under Theresa May and the Tories we’ve seen seven years of failure on housing, with the level of new affordable house building now at a 24-year low.” | “Under Theresa May and the Tories we’ve seen seven years of failure on housing, with the level of new affordable house building now at a 24-year low.” |
Just 32,110 affordable homes - which can be offered to tenants at up to 80 per cent of the market rate - were built last year, the lowest number since 1991. | Just 32,110 affordable homes - which can be offered to tenants at up to 80 per cent of the market rate - were built last year, the lowest number since 1991. |
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon confirmed on Sunday’s Andrew Marr Show there would be no new money for the policy, which would be funded from £1.4bn outlined in last year's Autumn Statement. | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon confirmed on Sunday’s Andrew Marr Show there would be no new money for the policy, which would be funded from £1.4bn outlined in last year's Autumn Statement. |
"It's a very attractive policy that will give people a real alternative to waiting and waiting and waiting to get into a council house or flat of their choice." | "It's a very attractive policy that will give people a real alternative to waiting and waiting and waiting to get into a council house or flat of their choice." |
When the extra funding was announced in November, the Government said the extra £1.4bn would build 40,000 homes by 2021. | When the extra funding was announced in November, the Government said the extra £1.4bn would build 40,000 homes by 2021. |
Rob Warm, head of external affairs at the National Housing Federation, told The Independent there was currently a shortfall of around 100,000 to 120,000 homes each year in the UK. | Rob Warm, head of external affairs at the National Housing Federation, told The Independent there was currently a shortfall of around 100,000 to 120,000 homes each year in the UK. |
“For the first time I can remember there’s a bit of an arms race on housing among all the main parties. Social housing is part of the conversation for all the main parties and we welcome that. | |
“Historically there have been problems with right to buy. The key problem is not that people bought their homes, it was to do with replacement. | “Historically there have been problems with right to buy. The key problem is not that people bought their homes, it was to do with replacement. |
“We’ve always been clear that homes must be built at a rate that replaces ones that are lost." | “We’ve always been clear that homes must be built at a rate that replaces ones that are lost." |
A leaked draft of Labour’s manifesto includes a policy pledging to suspend right-to-buy arrangements unless the local authority can guarantee homes will replaced at the same rate. | A leaked draft of Labour’s manifesto includes a policy pledging to suspend right-to-buy arrangements unless the local authority can guarantee homes will replaced at the same rate. |
Labour have also announced they will build a million new homes over the course of the next Parliament, of which half would be council homes. | Labour have also announced they will build a million new homes over the course of the next Parliament, of which half would be council homes. |