Housing minister in trouble over repossession comments
Thursday, 11 February 2010 4:19 PM
By politics.co.uk staff
John Healey is facing demands for an apology today after he said repossession was the best thing for some families.
Speaking on the day new figures from the Council of Mortgage lenders (CML) put repossessions at a 15-year-high, the housing minister told BBC Radio 5 Live: "In some cases there is no way round that and in some cases it is the best thing for the people who are struggling with these mortgages."
Asked to clarify, he said: "Sometimes it is impossible for people to maintain the mortgage commitments they've got ... it may be the best thing in those circumstances."
The comments met with an immediate chorus of criticism, not least of all from the Conservatives who demanded he apologise.
Grant Shapps, shadow housing minister, said: "It is unbelievable that John Healey has now claimed that repossession can be the best option.
"Tell that to the 46,000 families who have been booted out of their homes in the past 12 months. This proves once again that Labour ministers have completely lost touch with reality and I'm calling on the housing minister to apologise to the tens of thousands of families who have lost the roof over their heads."
Liberal Democrat housing minister Sarah Teather said: "If this is John Heale's best response to record repossession figures then he should just shut up.
"These comments are grossly insensitive to families booted out of their home. Labour has no idea what life is like for victims of the recession."
Today's figures show 46,000 repossessions took place last year and predicted an increase in the future, with more families falling behind on their mortgage repayments.
The figures are the highest since 1995.
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