Right-To-Buy Battle Looms in Lords

The Tories’ plan to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants will face stiff opposition in the House of Lords, amid growing concern that it will compromise the independence of charities and add hugely to government debt. In a move that has support from a cross-party group of peers – as well as the former head of the civil service, Lord Kerslake, who is a crossbencher – Labour has tabled an amendment to the charities bill that would pave the way for a prolonged parliamentary battle over one of the most controversial policies outlined in the Tory manifesto. Senior figures in Whitehall have told the Observer that the Treasury is increasingly concerned about forcing housing associations to sell their properties, fearing it could add up to £60bn to government debt and mean the Treasury has to step in to fund subsidies to buyers. Read more on the Observer website.