You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Labour’s shadow housing secretary has blasted Theresa May’s record on housing, following her speech at the Housing 2019 conference today.
John Healey was delivering a keynote address immediately after Ms May’s surprise appearance at the event in which she said that her government had changed attitudes towards housing and created “a whole new approach for social housing”.
“I must say, I listened to the prime minister just a moment ago. You’re a kindly crowd. You gave such a sympathetic hearing to our end of days prime minister,” Mr Healey said.
“I found it a sad speech in many ways. So little to show for three years in Downing Street.
“During those three years in Downing Street we’ve seen rough sleeping rise. We’ve seen the number of families – and kids in particular – in temporary accommodation rise, now to 124,000.
“And we’ve seen – whatever she said about the importance of social housing – the level of new government-backed social rented homes built last year fall to 961.
“And when you reflect on those three years, her ministers launched 99 housing consultations. Just consider that – 99 housing consultations yet so little action, so little legislation to follow.
“And even today as prime minister, she was still only able to promise change in the future on building standards and on social housing.”
The Wentworth and Dearne MP claimed that Conservative party ideology is a key barrier to building more social housing, arguing that if the government had continued to deliver new social rented homes at the same rate as Labour had in its last year in office, there would now be more than 180,000 extra units.
Just 6,463 social rent homes were completed in 2017/18, the second lowest level after the previous year since World War II.
Asked in a Q&A following his speech about the housing sector’s call this week for £12.8bn of affordable housing funding a year, Mr Healey said he supported the report, but added: “Is it realistic? It’s rough cut calculations, but a valuable contribution to the debate.
“I don’t think the National Housing Federation itself could cope with a tenfold increase in housing budget next year.”
He also reiterated his support for party leader Jeremy Corbyn, adding that “unless we can persuade people to give us the chance to get into government we’re wasting our time”.
What’s happening at Housing 2019?
Dispatches from Housing 2019 – Thursday Our round-up of the third and final day
Whatever Theresa May says, social housing is still the victim of a focus on homeownership Editor Martin Hilditch gives Inside Housing’s verdict to the prime minister’s speech
Your Housing 2019 tweets: a selection of tweets from the conference
Theresa May believes in a change of direction – but will Johnson or Hunt pay any attention? Jules Birch gives his take on Theresa May’s speech to Housing 2019
Watch Theresa May’s speech: a video of the prime minister’s speech to Housing 2019 in full
Dispatches from Housing 2019 – Wednesday The key takeaways from day two of the conference and exhibition
John Healey on Grenfell, Boris Johnson and Labour housing policy Ahead of his speech to Housing 2019, the shadow housing secretary takes part in a Q&A with Inside Housing
Dispatches from Housing 2019 – Tuesday Our round-up of all the key talking points in Manchester on the first day of the conference
Housing Heroes 2019 winners announced Find out the 17 winners and 14 commendations at the ceremony on Monday ahead of the conference and exhibition
In full: Terrie Alafat’s opening address to Housing 2019 The full text of the speech given by the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing to open Housing 2019
What will the Hackitt Review changes mean for you? Conference speaker Debbie Larner writes for Inside Housing about building safety
Inside Housing and Aico competition: tell us about your resident safety campaign We launch a new competition to promote fire and carbon monoxide safety
The latest news headlines from the conference:
Next PM will be committed to social housing, says Brokenshire
Homes England strategic partners to get £1bn cash boost
John Healey blasts May's housing record
Don't wait for Hackitt legislation to push ahead with building safety, says MHCLG official
Theresa May: ‘social housing a victim of drive for homeownership’
‘No-deal Brexit an opportunity for housing’, claim sector figures
Banks’ appetite to lend threatens offsite take-up, warns major landlord
Minister: funding allocations should be based on joint-agency working
Sector warned that fire safety costs could eat up HRA cap windfall
Theresa May to give speech at Housing 2019 conference
Regulator ‘found no breaches’ following Dispatches programme on Sanctuary
No funding for removal of combustible balconies, says Malthouse
MHCLG housing supply chief: affordable housing grant increase ‘on the table’ for Spending Review
‘We have got to do the right thing’ on affordable housing, says land director of Homes England
Council boss warns against local authority ‘can’t do’ attitude towards housebuilding
Terrie Alafat says Spending Review must ‘make a real difference’
Sector needs £146bn from government over a decade to end housing crisis, says NHF
Savills housing sector survey: building homes more important than existing stock to housing leaders
Morning Briefing: thousands descend on Manchester for Housing 2019
We are bringing you the most up-to-date, comprehensive coverage of #CIHHousing anywhere, including:
— Inside Housing (@insidehousing)
All the biggest #ukhousing stories
Live tweeting from the key sessions
A daily newsletter rounding up the key talking points
Daily magazines of conference newsWe are bringing you the most up-to-date, comprehensive coverage of #CIHHousing anywhere, including:
— Inside Housing (@insidehousing) June 26, 2019
All the biggest #ukhousing stories
Live tweeting from the key sessions
A daily newsletter rounding up the key talking points
Daily magazines of conference news