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Denis MacShane hits out over "right to buy"

Published date: 12 August 2010 | Published by: Phil Turner



Attack: Denis Macshane

ROTHERHAM MP Denis MacShane has called for a limit on the council homes right-to-buy policy to relaunch public housing.

Dr MacShane claims there is little point trying to restart council house building if tenants are allowed to buy any new homes built under the proposals from the Government.

The former Europe minister accused council house buyers of being “the most selfish generation of home-owners in British history.”

He said that in South Yorkshire more council homes were still being sold to tenants than have been built in recent years.

“It is time to reconsider one of the great shibboleths of recent times, namely that the sale of council homes is a policy that cannot be discussed in public by consenting politicians,” Dr MacShane said.

“Councils have had billions of pounds of receipts from sale of council homes but treasury rules under Gordon Brown prevented them from building new homes.

“The new proposals will not even scratch the surface of the lack of socially affordable housing if right-to-buy remains enshrined as policy.”

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    Posted by: millerman at 19:14 on 12 August 2010

    For once i agree with him! The present crisis of 1000s on council waiting lists,is the result of the council house sell off,it makes no sense at all in building more council/social housing,if you are going to give the residents the right to buy,the whole policy has been a disaster,if you want to buy a house ,then save the deposit and buy one on a private development!

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