The government is consulting on “How to implement social rent convergence”. We explain what convergence is and why we are opposed to it. Rent convergence was a policy introduced by John Prescott in 2002. Council housing and housing association rents were to be brought into alignment over 10 years. As the House of Commons Library … Continue reading Briefing: why we oppose ‘rent convergence’
Author: lcfch
Model Housing resolution for 2025 Labour conference
Here is the text of our model Housing resolution for this year's Labour conference. "Conference notes that government's latest statistics published on July 31st, show a record number of 131,140 households in temporary accommodation. There are also 1.33 million households on waiting lists. Therefore, Conference regrets that the government's Social and Affordable Homes Programme proposes … Continue reading Model Housing resolution for 2025 Labour conference
‘Time to protect renters against hikes when their landlord receives a grant’
Bell Ribeiro Addy, MP for Clapham & Brixton Hill Mould and damp spreading like a rash across the walls, freezing conditions, energy bills going through the roof. Week after week, private renters in my South London constituency come to me with these kinds of issues, frustrated by landlords who ignore their complaints and anxious about … Continue reading ‘Time to protect renters against hikes when their landlord receives a grant’
“The speculative builder is an unplannable instrument” – lessons from the Attlee government, Part 1
This year sees the 80th anniversary of the election of the post war Labour government. The General Election took place on July 5th. The result was announced on July 26th owing to the counting of the votes of troops abroad. Despite dire economic circumstances, far worse than we face today, the government set up the … Continue reading “The speculative builder is an unplannable instrument” – lessons from the Attlee government, Part 1
Reinstate the suspended MPs
The decision to suspend four Labour MPs and take away the role of three trade envoys, following the row over the ill-health and disability benefit cuts, runs counter to the government's promise to engage with back benchers. It is completely unprecedented for 127 Labour MPs to sign a 'reasoned amendment' which would kill a government … Continue reading Reinstate the suspended MPs
“Reforming Right to Buy” – a missed opportunity
Having reduced the discount for Right to Buy by executive action (varying from £16,000 to £38,000), the government is proposing a number of reforms (see below) which will require legislation “when Parliamentary time allows”. These are obviously designed to cut the number of sales. No surprise, as we said they would, the Tories have denounced … Continue reading “Reforming Right to Buy” – a missed opportunity
Rachel Reeves’ CLP calls for 100,000 council homes year and affiliates to the Labour Campaign for Council Housing
Leeds West and Pudsey Constituency Labour Party, for which Rachel Reeves is the MP, has passed a motion calling for, amongst other things, 100,000 council homes a year and ending Right to Buy. It agreed to affiliate to our campaign; the second Leeds CLP to do so. The passing of the resolution reflects the widespread … Continue reading Rachel Reeves’ CLP calls for 100,000 council homes year and affiliates to the Labour Campaign for Council Housing
Step up the campaign for 90,000+ social rent homes a year
18,000 social rent homes a year does not make a 'social rent revolution' The Ministry of Housing has announced that its £39 billion programme over 10 years will fund 180,000 social rent homes. They call this a 'social rent revolution'. 18,000 social rent homes a year is no sort of revolution. When you factor in … Continue reading Step up the campaign for 90,000+ social rent homes a year
RMT AGM housing resolution
The recent RMT AGM passed this housing resolution. “That this RMT AGM 2025 notes the housing crisis, particularly affecting young, low-paid and disabled workers in the UK who can’t afford to buy or rent in the private sector. We note: The lack of appropriate government funding to invest in social rented homes. The financial risk … Continue reading RMT AGM housing resolution
Step up the pressure for 90,000+ social rent homes a year
“The new investment pales by comparison with the scale of housing need...” Kate Henderson of the National Housing Federation, and others, have described the housing package announced in the Spring Spending Review as “transformational”. This is hyperbole. Jules Birch is closer to the mark when he wrote in Inside Housing that “The new investment pales … Continue reading Step up the pressure for 90,000+ social rent homes a year
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 