Corbyn on to a homes run

Labour’s poll ratings are improving because it is now talking about sound policies and not soundbites.

No wonder May doesn’t want to debate anything other than

Brexit. The Tories have a lousy record and no ideas.

At the last Prime Minister’s Questions, she was challenged by Jeremy Corbyn on the Government’s housing policy.

Jeremy highlighted building had fallen to the lowest level since the 1920s, more people were on council home waiting lists, renters were living in overcrowded homes. May gave no reply.

When Labour got into power, we started to turn the housing problem around. We doubled investment, built over a million new homes and brought two million council houses, run down under the Tories, up to a decent

Last month I said in this column the Vice Premier of China once told me hostile North Korea would soften if they had face-to-face talks with the US. This week President Trump said he wants to do it. Glad you read the Sunday Mirror, Donald. Now can you fix your

hair?

standard. Labour’s pledge to build a million new homes – half either council owned or affordable – recognises the need to meet the lack of provision, especially as the recent Government White Paper admitted the failure of the private housing market.

I found British builders were never interested in social housing. They just wanted greater profit with private houses and building on the green belt rather than brownfield land.

When I was in government I proposed a joint equity scheme where we provided public land and housebuilders built homes for £60,000 for split ownership or rent. The building industry wasn’t interested so I got a builder from Ireland to build them. I also proposed a finance scheme where people could buy new homes in instalments without having to raise a deposit or pay stamp duty, backed by a Government bond.

Labour has a huge role to play in helping to build social housing and affordable homes. It would be an election winner too.