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Some words of advice for the new prime minister
Boris Johnson’s colleagues have had some advice for him about housing policy in recent weeks. He should listen to them if he wants a housing policy that achieves his aim of “promoting the good of the whole country”, writes Martin Hilditch
Just three years ago, Theresa May’s dreams lay ahead of her as she entered Downing Street as prime minister.
At the time, Inside Housing had some advice for her that amounted to the importance of delivering a mix of new housing, including sub-market rented homes.
Today, Boris Johnson is the latest arrival at 10 Downing Street. But this time, rather than providing the advice ourselves (our belief in the importance of social housing remains unchanged), there is an opportunity to pass on learning from some of Mr Johnson’s colleagues who have been wrestling with the issue in recent times.
Over the past few weeks we have been gathering their opinions on housing provision – now let’s pull it all together to save Mr Johnson the bother.
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Just this week, former housing secretary James Brokenshire outlined the need to build more social homes in an exclusive column for Inside Housing.
“Social housing is a force for good in our society: providing decent, affordable secure homes for millions of families across the country, and a foundation upon which people’s lives can be transformed,” he wrote.
He outlined the importance of “ensuring social housing is there when people need it”, and said it is “vital” that work to build new social homes continues in the future.
In an interview with Inside Housing two weeks ago, then-housing minister Kit Malthouse said that one of the advantages of council housebuilding is that it is counter-cyclical, and funding for new homes under the Affordable Homes Programme can help to “preserve capacity and maintain activity” as the housing market waxes and wanes.
Then, of course, there was Mr Johnson’s immediate predecessor Ms May. While her record on delivery was far from perfect, her analysis of the mistakes government has made in its approach to housing in recent years was spot on: “In recent decades and under successive governments, social housing became another victim of the single-minded drive for homeownership.”
This week, Mr Johnson’s sole references to housing have been about homeownership. Sources suggest that this is likely to be the area of housing policy that gobbles up most of his attention – and funding – in the early phases of his new job. This would be a shame and terrible news for those most in need of secure, affordable housing.
“In recent years, homeownership has dominated at the expense of giving everyone a fair chance. This must change if Mr Johnson is to achieve his own stated goal”
Mr Johnson should listen to his own guidance. In his speech immediately after becoming Conservative leader, he referred to the “noble instinct” of homeownership, but also to the “equally noble” instinct to give everyone a fair chance in life.
His argument was that those instincts need to “work together in harmony to promote the good of the whole country”. In recent years, homeownership has dominated at the expense of giving everyone a fair chance. This must change if Mr Johnson is to achieve his own stated goal.
Martin Hilditch, editor, Inside Housing
