MP Jeremy Corbyn calls for more affordable homes

Published: 02 July, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

JEREMY Corbyn has warned that the government is pouring billions of pounds of housing benefit “into the pockets of private landlords”.

The Labour MP for Islington North told the House of Commons it would make more moral and economic sense to build affordable homes instead.

The debate, secured by Mr Corbyn, aimed to respond to a statement on the coalition government’s “devastating” proposals to cap housing benefit.

On Tuesday, he said: “It is fairly obvious, as a point of principle, that it would be far better to invest our precious national resources in building homes for affordable rent through councils and housing associations, rather than pouring the money down the drain by putting it in the pockets of private landlords through the housing benefit system.”

Mr Corbyn recalled how in the 1970s, when Margaret Hodge was chair of the council’s housing committee, the council “undertook an enormous purchase of street properties,” adding: “Clearly there will never be enough land for new build in central London, so that is one way of dealing with the problem.”

Mr Corbyn then read to the house a statement from Islington Council’s new housing chief, Labour councillor for Barnsbury James Murray.

It said: “In Islington we have thousands of families on the waiting list for housing, many living in desperate overcrowding. It is not rare to see seven or eight people in a two-bed flat.

“The announcement last week of a cap on housing benefit could put a third of Islington’s private sector tenants who are on housing benefit at risk of eviction. 

“This will only increase the pressure on social housing – and so more than ever we desperately need more investment in social rented homes.”

Responding, parliamentary under secretary for communities and local government, Lib Dem Andrew Stunnell said: “We will do our best. 

“Let me make it clear that increasing the supply of housing, including affordable housing, is a priority for the Government. I am leading active work in the Department to make progress on the issue.”