After the whole chaos of Boris Johnson becoming PM and him trying to deliver Britain exiting the EU; on the 29th October another election was called.
Since, there has been non-stop talk around UK politics. Each party is currently going around the UK trying to persuade the public to vote for them. However, from the outside, the whole election can seem confusing.
With all the parties offering a variety of different pledges, it is hard deciding who to choose.
This article intends to look at each of the political parties Manifesto in terms of housing.
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When is the 2019 election?
Well, as mentioned previously, each of the party leaders are currently campaigning. However, the critical day will be the 12th of December when the polling centres open. The last time there was a general election in December within the UK was in 1923.
What are the Conservatives offering?
Boris Johnson has pledged many things, with Brexit being top if his agenda. The conservatives have included included housing policies within their manifesto.
It is believed they are committed (if they have the majority) to delivering a million homes over the next five years. This policy would be put in place to help first time buyers to get onto the property ladder.
Within a recent speech, Johnson also promised to introduce new mortgage schemes. Such as new mortgages with longer fixed rates and only needing a 5% deposit.
However, their completed manifesto still hasn’t been launched. According to the BBC in the next few days, other policies will be announced, alongside the new million homes.
What are Labour offering?
Labour have announced the biggest affordable housing programme since the 60s within their manifesto. As part of their promises, Labour said they would include 100,000 new council houses by the year 2024.
The parties plan would have around a £75 billion pound budget. The money for this plan would come from the £150 billion from the Social Transformation fund, if they win a majority.
Mr. Corbyn also has also pledged to building 50,000 affordable houses around the UK per year. This would be through the Housing Association.
What are the Liberal Democrats offering?
The leader of the Lib Dems, Jo Swinson, has committed to a new social housing model within their manifesto. As part of their £130 billion capital infrastructure budget, they pledge a new ‘Rent to Own model’. The plan would allow tenants to gain increasing stake within their property and through renting, after thirty years, they would own the property outright.
It has also pledged to ensuring any new homes and non-domesticated buildings built will be zero-carbon standard in 2021.
What are UKIP offering?
The UKIP manifesto believes that the UK housing has a demand issue. According to UKIP this issue ‘… with demand being fuelled by mass uncontrolled immigration’.
They believe it ‘should be possible’ for them to build a million houses on brownfield sites.
Also, they are wanting to abolish the Stamp Duty. They believe this would help house buyers collectively save £16.2 billion per annum.
What are the Green Party offering?
The green party has also followed in the footsteps of Labour by also promising social housing. They pledge to build 500,000 social rented homes by the end of 2020. They want to bring empty houses across the country into use and ensure access to affordable housing.
On top of this, they want to build 100,00 zero-carbon homes in the UK.
Additionally, they are wanting to abolish the bedroom tax and introduce longer tenancies to protect renters.
What are the Independent Group for Change offering?
If the IGC gained majority, they would commit efforts to creating partnerships between private and public sectors to deliver large amounts of affordable housing in high demand areas.
Additionally, they want to include scaling back agricultural and business property relief. This would therefore generate revenues to be spent on social housing.
What are the Brexit Party offering?
Within the 2019 elections, the Brexit party hasn’t pledged anything at all towards housing in the UK. They have focused their efforts on other policies such as the NHS and Brexit.
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I started writing for PPO back in August 2019. I particularly enjoy writing about new housing developments and upcoming property events.
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