Julie, in her position as Chair of the PLP Housing and Planning Committee, spoke in the House of Commons in a debate on housing. Since 2010, the Tories have presided over the lowest level of homes built in peace time since the 1920s. Home ownership has fallen by 200,000, social housing has enormous waiting lists and those who rent in the private sector face low standards and instability. Worse still, homelessness has risen by a third since 2010 and rough sleeping has increased by more than half in the past five years. 

Julie said:

“The Government’s failure on housing is one driven by short-termism, incompetence and a total lack of understanding of how millions of people live the lives. The Government, in the Housing and Planning Bill, have chosen to impose five year limits on new council tenants. This move will deprive families across the country of a stable home whilst breaking up neighbourhoods. 

The Tories’ attitude to council housing is that it is housing of last resort. They are wrong. I grew up in a council house and it was my home. 

We need to increase the supply of all types of housing – new build for purchase, rent and in the social housing sector. House building has fallen to its lowest level in decades and instead of attacking social tenants, the Government should address its own failures to build the new homes that Britain needs.”