Stockport Labour Group has welcomed support from across the political spectrum for its campaign to provide better access to social and affordable housing in the borough.
A motion on the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill will be debated at the full meeting of Stockport Council on 3rd December, with the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council now publicly supporting Labour in opposition to a Bill which attacks the social housing sector.
Councillor Sheila Bailey, Stockport Labour Group Housing Spokesperson, said:
‘This Tory Government seems intent on making life harder for people who cannot afford to buy at sky-high prices or pay large private sector rents. Absolutely nothing the Chancellor said in the Autumn Statement will change that, indeed he is making the situation worse.
‘I’m pleased that the Leader of the Council is supporting our campaign for more social housing, but actions speak louder than words, and the Lib Dems have done very little to address the affordable housing crisis in Stockport, which has developed under their watch.
‘In contrast, Labour Councillors have been driving the agenda locally – for years we have consistently raised concerns about the lack of affordable housing and demanded action.’
The motion, from Labour’s Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, outlines how the Bill forces Councils to sell much of their existing housing stock, undermines Housing Association business plans, and tears up agreements with developers to provide affordable homes.
Stockport is already in the position of virtually no socially rented homes being built at all, and Labour is pointing out how these proposals will exacerbate the problem.
Cllr Bailey added:
‘The Government has to allow Councils to build social and affordable housing and provide them with the funds to do so before all our available land is taken up building houses for sale.
‘Private developers are not going to solve the housing crisis so the Government needs to move away from its obsession with the private sector and understand that access to a safe and secure home is the right of everyone, regardless of income.’
Stockport Labour Group ran a successful campaign against the stock transfer of social housing away from the Council and regularly raise housing issues in Council meetings, in our leaflets and through the press.