Shadow work and pensions minister Douglas Alexander has admitted he is in favour of cutting housing benefit payments, ahead of a crucial vote on the topic. In a speech on Friday, Mr Alexander said he was ‘not against caps in the housing benefit system’, but said the speed of cuts to the payments to social and private tenants would risk increasing homelessness. He said he would consider phased reductions in payments over a number of years. Caroline Flint, shadow CLG secretary, said: ‘Labour is in favour of reforming housing benefit. But it must be the right sort of reform. We’ll work with the government, but not on the basis of rushed changes and easy headlines. The government's plans will do nothing to tackle the real cause of the rising housing benefits bill: the shortage of affordable homes. Whether it's a first-time buyer struggling to get a foot on the property ladder, or a family looking for somewhere to settle, or the housing benefits bill, what's at the root of all these problems is a lack of affordable housing” Read more on the Guardian website.
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