Conservatives Remain Committed To Right Wing Policies

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Sep 2007

Responding to the announcement of new social housing policies by the Conservatives with the publication of the report by their Public Services Improvement Policy Working Group, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Paul Holmes MP said;

"This report shows that under the Cameron sheep skin the Conservatives remain committed to right wing policies.

"The Tories want to build new homes for the rich, but none for the poor. They want to use money from the sale of council homes to build private houses. They talk about giving tenants greater choice, but are happy to take away their security by making it easier to evict council tenants.

"The plans could also be expensive. Giving tenants a 10% equity stake in their home could cost up to £6 billion - more than the government is spending on building new social housing at the moment.

"Providing a genuine choice and opportunity for those who can't afford or don't want to own their own home means providing more affordable and social housing. That means building more council homes, but in mixed developments or pepper potted estates. It also means using equity mortgages and community land trusts in cities and towns and not just rural areas to ensure that affordable housing remains affordable."