The housing content of the National Policy Forum document is supposed to “shape the Labour Party's policy agenda”. The draft document it has produced, will be discussed by NPF members and, amended by them, will go to a “Clause 5” meeting on which the NEC, CLPs and affiliates sit, together with the Shadow Cabinet. That … Continue reading Questions on Labour’s housing policy
Category: Council Housing
The contradictions of Labour’s housing policy
There are no market solutions to the housing crisis At last year's conference Keir Starmer said that Labour is “the Party of Home Ownership”. It would support first time buyers with “a mortgage guarantee scheme”. At the same conference Lisa Nandy said Labour's mantra was “council housing, council housing, council housing” and it would commit … Continue reading The contradictions of Labour’s housing policy
Right to Buy divides people
Hackney councillor Clare Joseph writes on the practical consequences of Right to Buy and why the policy should be ended. When the LCCH asked me to write something on the Right to Buy, I wondered what I could say that hadn’t already been said. Right to Buy means we lose irreplaceable Council stock, an average … Continue reading Right to Buy divides people
“Council housing rescued us when we were homeless”
Tom Murtha, now retired, was very prominent in the housing association sector. We interview him about his experience and the current situation, with an increasing trend towards commercialisation. You spent many years working for housing associations. Could you tell us what you did and why you decided to work in that field? I was born … Continue reading “Council housing rescued us when we were homeless”
Wycombe CLP supports the call for ending Right to Buy
Wycombe CLP has passed a resolution which, amongst other things, supports our call for Labour to commit to ending Right to Buy and for an end to the Right to Aquire for housing associations. Buckinghamshire is one of those areas where all the council housing stock was transferred to housing associations. It is spending nearly … Continue reading Wycombe CLP supports the call for ending Right to Buy
Labour Campaign for Council Housing AGM: campaigning for policies that can resolve the housing crisis
"Without ending the disastrous Right to Buy policy and funding a large scale social rent council house building programme, a Labour government will not resolve the acute housing crisis" Our campaign's AGM will take place by zoom on February 4th at 2 p.m. We will be discussing what Labour's housing policies are, what we want … Continue reading Labour Campaign for Council Housing AGM: campaigning for policies that can resolve the housing crisis
“A major expansion of council housing”
“Giving local housing authorities the power to stop council house sales is essential to any hope of dealing with the homelessness crisis” My view is that neither Starmer nor Nandy have any real clue, insight or interest in council housing. The Nandy speech was - frankly - empty rhetoric forgotten before she sat down. Giving … Continue reading “A major expansion of council housing”
Council housing should be Labour’s first housing priority
70% home ownership and 'social housing' as the second housing tenure are conflicting objectives At the recent Labour conference housing did not make it through the Priorities ballot so there was no composite motion debated. The previous four conferences had seen housing coming top in three and second only to the NHS in the other. … Continue reading Council housing should be Labour’s first housing priority
Right to Buy and “common ownership” are mutually exclusive
“...the idea of a home for life handed on in common ownership to future generations is an idea worth fighting for.” Lisa Nandy What is Labour's position on Right to Buy? Inside Housing reports from the Labour Party conference that “...Ms (Lisa) Nandy was asked at a fringe event where Labour stood on the policy … Continue reading Right to Buy and “common ownership” are mutually exclusive
Labour Campaign for Council Housing to support ‘Enough is Enough”
The Labour Campaign for Council Housing has agreed to support 'Enough is Enough' and encourage our members to participate in local groups. A lot of them have already signed up under their own steam. Amongst the demands of EiE we are pleased to see support for housing policies that we have campaigned for successfully at … Continue reading Labour Campaign for Council Housing to support ‘Enough is Enough”
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 