Angela Rayner hints at major social housing announcement

Angela Rayner has suggested more strongly than ever that Labour is likely to reveal a significant plan for social housing construction in the upcoming spending review next month. She emphasized that if the party does not follow through, it would mean abandoning its "moral mission."

At the Labour conference on Sunday, the deputy prime minister mentioned that she anticipates the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will commit to a plan for social housing in the coming month, as there is increasing pressure on the government to construct hundreds of thousands of additional social housing units.

The Labour party has committed to constructing 1.5 million new homes during their time in parliament. However, specialists warn that achieving this goal will require securing funding to create at least 90,000 affordable rental homes across England each year.

During a panel event hosted by the homelessness charity Shelter, Rayner discussed the importance of tackling social and council housing issues in the UK. She emphasized that without addressing these fundamental problems, we won't be able to effectively resolve the broader housing crisis affecting everyone.

"I truly believe that it's a significant responsibility for the Labour government to acknowledge the housing crisis and to construct the necessary social housing. I haven't given a specific number today because there are many complex factors involved. However, I hope that during the upcoming spending review, it will become clear that this government is genuinely committed to building the homes we urgently require."

"Our government has a responsibility to ensure everyone has a place to live. If we’re not focused on providing safe and secure housing, then what is the purpose of the Labour Party?"

Labour has pledged to boost housing construction by setting mandatory targets for local councils and making significant changes to the planning system. However, specialists believe that these measures alone will fall short of the party's goal of creating an additional 300,000 homes annually, especially since the number of new planning approvals is currently at its lowest level in a decade.

Shelter and other organizations have stated that in order to fulfill that commitment, ministers must invest in building 90,000 new social housing units annually. A report released earlier this year by the charity highlighted that this would require £11.8 billion from the central government, while an additional £23.6 billion would need to be sourced from social housing providers or local councils.

The charity contended that this policy would recoup the initial investment in just 11 years, and would further contribute an extra £12 billion to the Treasury over the course of 30 years.

Reeves is facing mounting pressure to boost spending in various areas, particularly by undoing the reductions to winter fuel payments she proposed in July. Trade unions are preparing to hold a vote at the conference to criticize these cuts and urge her to restore the previous benefits.

In her efforts to improve the availability of social housing in England, Rayner is thinking about making it more challenging for people living in council houses to purchase their homes. Although she benefited from the right-to-buy program when she purchased her own council house, she now believes that the significant discounts provided on these homes are leading to a rapid decline in the housing stock.

"I've mentioned that I would hold a consultation on this issue, but due to the government's changes made in 2012, a larger number of our council homes are being sold, and we simply cannot replace them," she stated.