Social housing shift splits coalition
Wednesday, 4 August 2010 5:05 PM
David Cameron's aim of ending the 'council houses for life' principle has met with a frosty reception from the Liberal Democrats.
The party's deputy leader said the Lib Dems "would need a lot of persuading" on the issue, as the coalition unveiled proposals to introduce a national affordable home swap scheme today.
The prime minister had trailed the initiative by suggesting a more flexible approach to social housing in a question-and-answer session with voters in Birmingham yesterday.
"There is a question mark about whether, in future, should we be asking when you are given a council home, is it for a fixed period," he said.
"Maybe in five or ten years you will be doing a different job and be better paid and you won't need that home, you will be able to go into the private sector... looking at a more flexible system, I think makes sense."
Under the swap scheme outlined today those in social housing with spare bedrooms would be able to swap homes with those experiencing overcrowding.
While voluntary in itself, separate plans to lower housing benefit payments for those living in accommodation larger than they need could see many forced into looking for an exchange.
Mr Hughes said the Lib Dems were suspicious of the proposals.
He told BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme: "It's a prime ministerial idea, it has no more validity yet, and I think our party would need a lot of persuading that it has merit or could work and that's something clearly if he wants us to talk about we're happy to talk about."
Over 250,000 households in England are overcrowded, according to government figures, while 430,000 households are unable to easily downsize from larger properties.
"Many tenants are left trapped in their own homes, while councils and housing associations turn their attention to record waiting lists," housing minister Grant Shapps said.
"This cannot continue - as we work to tackle the record budget deficit we must ensure vulnerable people benefit from, but don't become trapped by, the safety net that social housing provides.
"That's why I'm putting tenants in the driving seat, with a new opportunity to see people like them looking to exchange social homes not just in their area but across the country, through a new national home swap scheme."
Chancellor George Osborne announced a "package of reforms" set to cut the housing benefit bill in the emergency Budget, however, including the punitive housing benefit removal "for working age claimants occupying a larger property than their household size warrants".
Labour's Bob Ainsworth jumped to criticise the divisions after Mr Hughes' comments, suggesting they pointed to wider disunity within the coalition.
"Proper government can't be conducted if Nick Clegg isn't speaking for the government from the despatch box and David Cameron isn't speaking for the government at a question and answer session," he said.
"Clegg and Cameron need to stop giving different answers to different audiences for party political advantage, as has always been the Lib Dem tactic."
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