Government Accused Of Doing Backroom Deal Over Right To Buy

The government has done a backroom deal with housing associations in order to avoid proper public scrutiny of its plans to extend the right to buy policy, the shadow housing minister has told parliament. John Healey put forward an urgent question about a deal struck between housing associations and the government concerning Conservative plans to extend the right-to-buy scheme to housing association tenants. Housing associations voted in favour of striking a voluntary deal with the government to allow their tenants to buy housing association homes at a discount, in return for compensation. The deal means the government’s proposals will not need to be passed into law and debated in parliament. Healey said: “This is a backroom deal to sidestep legislation and the proper public scrutiny in parliament. We have said from the start this is unworkable and wrong. And so it is proving.” Read more on the Guardian website.