Looking For House And Home

You can normally get a good feel for changing political priorities by tracking how often the parties refer to particular issues over time. Search for ‘house’ and ‘home’ in the manifestos of the two main parties and in 2001 neither term got much of a look-in. Today references to both are legion. If we quite literally take the parties at their word, whoever forms the next government looks set to give housing the prominence it deserves (and that voters clearly think it should have too). The Conservatives reiterate their 2015 commitment to deliver 1 million homes by 2020 and promise a further half a million by 2022; Labour also sign up to build the magic million. Read more analysis on the Resolution Foundation website.

Little Faith in Political Parties’ Ability to Solve Housing Crisis

Tenants in the private rented sector are deeply sceptical that the UK’s political parties are capable of solving the housing crisis, suggests the National Landlords Association (NLA). Despite a staggering majority expressing their doubts that any party has an answer to the crisis, among those few who believe otherwise, Labour enjoys a sliver of a lead over its rivals. Even so, the NLA suggests its findings make for “bleak reading” for Labour, as well as the Liberal Democrats, given the extent to which they have given clear outlines as to their manifestos. According to the NLA, with the general election little more than six months away, 62% of private tenants surveyed said they are unsure whether any of the political parties will be able to tackle the housing crisis. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Parties Unite In Call for National Housing Consensus

Luminaries from the UK's three main political parties have signed a letter calling for a national consensus on solutions to the housing crisis that “aim to ensure people's happiness and secure national prosperity". Signed alongside council leaders, heads of homelessness and planning charities, leading architects and planners, and chief executives of development companies and housing associations, the letter claims that good planning is part of the solution to meeting the nation's housing need. The letter states: "Good planning goes beyond the cycle of elections, and cross-party support...is vital for high-quality developments to be delivered. For too long planning has been marked by division. It is time the nation came together." Read more on 24dash.