Right to buy ‘hypocrisy’ of former Civil Service chief

THE former head of the Civil Service was attacked last night for denouncing the Government’s right to buy policy – while working for a housing association.

Lord Kerslake, pictured, is set to launch a campaign against David Cameron’s plans to extend the discount purchase scheme to housing association tenants.

But it emerged yesterday that he has taken up a new post as chairman of the Peabody Trust, one of the largest social landlords in the capital. Although the position is unpaid, Tory backbenchers accused him of a conflict of interests.

The peer, who was also permanent secretary at the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), was branded a ‘gun for hire’ for his comments, which come less than a year after he left Whitehall.

Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen added: ‘When he worked for DCLG he supported government policy and now he works for a housing association he doesn’t.’ Romford MP Andrew Rosindell added: ‘Lord Kerslake seeks to deny working people the opportunity to own their own home and have the freedom that comes with owning your own property, whilst at the same time taking employment with an organisation with a vested interest in opposing the right to buy.

‘Working people who now hope to exercise their right to buy will feel that they may be a conflict of interest here.’

Lord Kerslake will savage the housing policy today in his maiden speech in the House of Lords. His job at Peabody was approved by the watchdog in charge of appointments of former ministers and senior officials. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments said there was no conflict of interest.

Although he can make public comments, it has banned him from lobbying on behalf of the organisation.