The Government is doubling down on a system designed for corporate gain rather than public need, suggests Cllr James Valentine. From Labour Hub The Government’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill is being sold as a game-changer for housebuilding, the legislative key to unlocking its election promise of 1.5 million new homes. But beneath the fanfare, … Continue reading Build, Baby Build — But Who Really Wins?
The cost of Inaction
Shelter commissioned Cebr (Centre for Economics and Business Research) to deliver economic analysis looking at the cost of not delivering social housing. The analysis estimates the costs to the government and public services if there is not a significant increase in social rent delivery. The analysis focuses on the long-term cost of inaction (i.e. not … Continue reading The cost of Inaction
The city that reveals Britain’s biggest problem – nowhere to live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me8KJlzYymI John Harris takes a visit to Liverpool during the Labour conference. A 15 minute video, well worth a watch. Our member Carol Hayton makes an appearance.
No to 10 years of above inflation rent increases
The government is implementing a policy of 10 years of above inflation rent increases (CPI+1%) for council and housing association tenants. In addition it is reintroducing 'rent convergence' (see our Briefing: Why we oppose 'rent convergence'), originally introduced by New Labour to drive up council rents to housing association levels. The consultation on 'rent convergence' … Continue reading No to 10 years of above inflation rent increases
“The lack of housing is such a fertile source of human misery”
how and why DID the labour leadership prevent a debate on council housing? For the fourth year running housing has been kept off the agenda of the Labour Party conference. This was no accident. The Labour leadership has sought to prevent a debate. The main instrument for stopping resolutions which the leadership doesn't want debated … Continue reading “The lack of housing is such a fertile source of human misery”
Let the Labour conference debate council housing
The Labour Campaign for Council Housing's resolution (model-resolution-2025.pdf) to the Labour Party conference has been deemed to be not 'contemporary', i.e. it will not be on the conference agenda. The Conference Arrangements Committee has not explained the basis of their judgement. A Constituency Labour Party which has sent in the resolution has to explain why … Continue reading Let the Labour conference debate council housing
Briefing: why we oppose ‘rent convergence’
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’
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
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 