RIPsnorter of a Housing Debate

On 2 November, The Housing and Planning Bill received its second reading in the House of Commons. The Right To Buy extension, while in the Bill, is subject to a “voluntary” deal offered by NHF and so avoids parliamentary scrutiny and, significantly, Greg Clark the Minister stated that this applied to ALL housing associations including those who voted against the deal despite assurances from David Orr saying they would not!  Yet far more important was the announcement on Friday that the ONS had reclassified housing associations as public sector bodies. Healey asked Clark twice as to when he knew about the ONS reclassification – and twice Clark refused to answer. The NHF was stitched up like a kipper and David Orr sold them down the river with his assurances on independence, on the discretion he claimed they would have and on those voting No to his deal would not have to sell their properties. Read more on the Speye blog.