SNP MSP Bob Doris today said Labour's attempts to get involved in housing showed how behind the economic times they really are as he showed how Labour's actions on housing are at odds with today's rhetoric.
The SNP Government began addressing the issues facing Scotland's housing and construction sector last year with early action in the summer to meet the impact of Gordon Brown's recession on Scotland's construction sector. In contrast Labour's actions on housing include voting against SNP measures to end the right to buy on new build social housing - an essential move to encourage construction of new properties.
Glasgow MSP and member of Parliament's Local Government and Communities Committee Bob Doris said;
“Labour’s hypocrisy on housing is breathtaking. They and the Liberal Democrats built only six council houses during their last four years in office – not a single one of which was in mainland Scotland.
"Their actions in Government and opposition are completely at odds with their rhetoric.
“The SNP Government, in contrast, is putting record amounts of cash into affordable housing, with more than £1.5 billion in investment over the next three years. That is almost a fifth more than the amount planned by Labour and the Lib Dems.
“Iain Gray himself has admitted that Labour ‘didn’t build enough houses’ when they were in power. For him and his colleagues to now try and pretend they had nothing to do with that abject failure simply won’t wash.
"By scrapping the right to buy on new build social housing the SNP is making sure social landlords and local authorities have the incentive to build new houses - a move Labour ganged up with the Conservatives to vote against.
“The SNP Government is boosting payments to housing associations to ensure much-needed construction work continues in the current economic climate, meaning that the average grant per house is being increased by between £4,000 and £5,000. SNP ministers have also set up a repossessions group, which will report by the end of April on whether tougher laws are needed to protect those in danger of losing their home.
“And, during the SNP’s first year in office, more public sector homes were started than at any time since 1997. At the same time, up to £120 million in investment for affordable housing has been brought forward, to make sure the biggest possible number of affordable homes is built.
“All this is happening despite the threatened £1 billion in cuts threatened to Scotland’s public services by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling, the slash and burn Chancellor. Labour MPs and MSPs should spend their time fighting tooth and nail to defend Scottish interests from these savage cuts. By talking about housing all they are doing is highlighting their own failure.”
This story is also closely followed by Mr Gareth Johnston of Braemar and west Aberdeenshire and Kincardine SNP.
More info on this Scottish News Information story.
1. Almost 5700 public sector homes were started in 2007-08, more than any year since devolution. 2. 432 new council houses started in 2007-08, compared to a total of 6 in the previous 4 years. 3. Iain Gray: “the best homelessness legislation in the world, but we didn’t build the housing to make it work”. (The Herald, 21 August 2008)
4. The Conservative motion from Jamie McGrigor stated; further believes that the right to buy should not be further restricted, and calls on the Scottish Government to encourage councils to bring forward plans for housing stock transfer to take advantage of the debt write-off which is available from HM Treasury and promote new investment as a result."
The motion was defeated, yes 60 (Labour and Tory), no 64
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