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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Stephen Gilbert writes: UK housing policy in crisis
July 9, 2011 11:09 AM
• [Jul 08] Stephen Gilbert* writes: LAST year I was probably the only MP to be elected while still living with my parents. Of course, I'd moved out of home and, like many others, had to move back again. It's a symptom of the fact that housing policy in the UK is in crisis. We have millions of people languishing on social housing waiting lists, first-time-buyers priced out of the market and in private rented sector tenants facing increased rents with decreased security of tenure and standards.
. . If we continue to duck our responsibilities to get housing policy right then we will exacerbate an already emerging trend - the generational divide between the so-called "Baby Boomers" (those born after the Second World War) and their children, Generation-X. Compared to their parents, the future for Generation-X looks increasingly challenging: they are going to have to work longer than their parents and can expect a diminished return from the State in later life whilst also being locked out of stable and affordable housing. If this divide and these challenges are not going to get much worse before they get better the time for action is now.
* Stephen Gilbert is MP for St Austell and Newquay and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing.
• Stephen Gilbert MP writes: UK housing policy in crisis [Lib Dem Voice Jul 08]
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