A great divide fueling the housing
crisis
In Whitehall and in town halls throughout the country the year 2020 promises to be significant for housing and the crisis it faces.
In Whitehall we have a new government in place and here in Carlisle also there has been big changes recently as a new party took control of the city council.
Those working for housing associations, councils and private builders are waiting with bated breath to see just how central to Boris Johnson’s new government housing will be.
And in Carlisle, the waiting is for just how successful the opposition Labour Party will be in its campaign to get council house building going again in face of refusal by the controlling Conservatives.
The row, which has been penned as
a ‘class war’, emphasises Jenrick’s focus on first-time buyers, while McVey –
described as “blue collar”– wants to spend the cash on council housing,
particularly for new Conservative voters who switched from Labour in the last
election.
The report quotes a Whitehall
source as saying: “It’s a difficult dynamic. Jenrick wants to help more people
to buy their own homes. He wants the government to focus on owner-occupation.
“But Esther says we should be
building more council and social housing. There’s no love lost there.”
The Tory manifesto outlines a
promise to both increase home ownership and the supply of social housing and
affordable homes.
In Carlisle there is no division in the Labour ranks, just a new determination by
two councillors backed by their Labour councillor colleagues to re-start building council houses.
Councillors Ruth Alcroft and Lisa
Brown intend to continue to pursue the
issue after some success in previous attempts.
Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation publishes this blog. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 52227
Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation publishes this blog. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 52227
