MP attacks ‘vicious’ cuts to housing

MORE than 8,000 people on social-housing waiting lists across Oldham will be stuck in limbo if the coalition Government slashes the housing budget by more than half, an MP has said.

Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher said the most vulnerable will be hit by today’s long-awaited Comprehensive Spending Review.

The social housing budget in England is expected to be cut by more than 50 per cent and council houses “for life” will end for new tenants, with their entitlement assessed at regular intervals. Passing on council homes to children will also be stopped for new tenants.

Mr Meacher said: “Of all the viciousness of the cuts to be unveiled, arguably the most vicious of all is the callous decision to virtually stop social/affordable house-building altogether.

“These are public sector houses and flats priced above the cost of construction, but below local private market levels.

“They are the only way that people on the lowest incomes can hope to get access to a place to live.

“The lack of availability of sufficient affordable homes is the biggest, most damaging, most scandalous focus of social misery in Britain today.

“Deliberately to magnify that yawning gap now is an act of politically treasonable neglect and irresponsibility.”

Mr Meacher said it was “criminal” how government was attacking the most vulnerable in society and there were other ways to tackle the deficit.

He said people would have to continue living in properties which were too small and said more houses needed to be built to accommodate need.

Councils are also expected to be given new rights to manage their local waiting lists so that they do not have to follow national guidelines and would have greater flexibility on who to give a council-house tenancy.

In addition, a new form of short-term tenures are expected to be unveiled as a way of freeing up social housing. Government claim the move will make it easier to build more social housing.