Lord Kerslake speaks out
Lord Kerslake speaking at The Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual conference in Manchester renewed his attack on the governments plans to extend the right to buy to housing Associations.
He claimed that the proposal is wrong in principle and wrong in practice, Lord Kerslake, who is the chair of housing group Peabody, reportedly said the “crucial thing” now was for housing associations and local authorities to work together on the right to buy or face being “picked off” by the government.
He went on to say “The proposed extension of right to buy to housing associations seems to me to be the policy solution for which there is no sensible policy question,” he told delegates. “It is wrong in principle and wrong in practice. And it works entirely counter to that overwhelming priority…of promoting new supply. “I thought long and hard about whether to be so forthright in my maiden speech in the Lords…but when you’ve got a policy that is so fundamentally wrong it seems you’ve got a duty to say that.”
Lord Kerslake, former permanent secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government, also pointed out that, in his opinion, current government housing policy would only build a maximum of 160,000 a year.
The Chartered Institute of Housing Annual Conference and Exhibition is taking place in Manchester over 3 days from 23rd to 25th June dealing with he leading social and affordable housing event in the UK, bringing together housing associations, ALMOs and Local Authorities. The Chartered Institute of Housing Annual Conference and Exhibition focuses on the provision of social and affordable housing and the development of sustainable communities.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual conference in Manchester, Lord Kerslake acknowledged that he had gone against the parliamentary tradition of not making a controversial maiden speech but felt compelled to speak out on the issue. He said feedback from fellow peers had been positive.
“The proposed extension of right to buy to housing associations seems to me to be the policy solution for which there is no sensible policy question,” he told delegates. “It is wrong in principle and wrong in practice. And it works entirely counter to that overwhelming priority…of promoting new supply.”
He added: “I thought long and hard about whether to be so forthright in my maiden speech in the Lords…but when you’ve got a policy that is so fundamentally wrong it seems you’ve got a duty to say that.”
Lord Kerslake, who is the chair of housing group Peabody, said the “crucial thing” now was for housing associations and local authorities to work together on the right to buy or face being “picked off” by the government.
Speaking about the London Housing Commission that he has been asked to chair by the IPPR think-tank, Lord Kerslake said: “The intention is to report in March and I don’t want to prejudge the report but I do think one of the key things that will come out of it is the need for greater devolution to the London mayor, to the London boroughs. And by the way, I think devolution is a key part of the agenda across the country.”
Lord Kerslake, former permanent secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government, also pointed out that, in his opinion, current government housing policy would only build a maximum of 160,000 a year.
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