Labour have been in government for 100 days and our CEO Jan was asked to comment on local radio about their first months in power. Here are her observations:
Initial general observations:
- Many of the actions taken, for example removal of pensioners’ winter fuel allowance, scrapping the cap on social care bills and retaining the two child limit on benefit payments, don’t reflect what you would expect from a traditional Labour government.
- Poor judgement – free Taylor Swift tickets were always going to come back to bite the PM. I always run the ‘newspaper test’ – run your actions through how they would look on the front of a newspaper…it’s a great decider!
- We hear a lot about ‘tough choices’…..but little substance to these words as yet, we are waiting for clarity of vision.
- There seems to be a shift from government responsibility to employers in some areas such as the Employment Rights Bill for better sick and maternity pay – at a time when employers are struggling with cost of living increases.
Housing and homeless Sector specific pledges:
- We’ve seen nothing at all so far in terms of action to support people sleeping rough …. We currently have no certainty of funding for the next financial year.
- The Renters Rights Bill – (expected to become law mid 2025) will strengthen tenants’ rights by removing no fault evictions BUT there are still loopholes which will result in people being homeless. There will undoubtably be landlords who decide to sell and because of this which will mean less housing stock in the rental market.
- We know Labour plan to build 1.5 million homes in the next 5 years but the details are patchy – no pledge (as yet) to build more social homes which is what is needed.
- We know we need 90,000 new social homes every year for the next 10 years if we are to end the housing crisis – not only does there need to be a significant investment in funding for social homes (circa £35 billion) there also needs to be some ‘common sense’ applied to planning laws and decisions. Planning approvals are currently at a 10-year low.
- Consultation re ‘Right to buy’ – this is important….councils can not replace housing stock as quickly as it is sold. Watch this excellent video from Shelter about the impact of Right to Buy
- Establish new Towns Task Force. This is helpful BUT only if it delivers social housing as part of the new towns mix.
Challenges to come:
- 1 – Financial – we know it’s tough…..there isn’t enough money and everyone is crying out for more but let’s look at the basics. Sufficient, good quality housing, good quality health and social care and (sad to say) sufficient defence.
- 2 – Systems – the NHS is broken – the system is broken…..the people St Martins supports are bounced about between drug and mental health services every single day. We not only have a housing crisis in this country we have a mental health emergency. If we don’t deal with this NOW every single system from health to criminal justice services will collapse under the weight of poor mental health services
- 3 – Cross sector working – always a challenge for governments but investment in social housing will same millions on other statutory services (e.g. if people are settled they will have better mental and physical health) – THINK MASLOW. Safety is a very basic need.
What would read on the government’s report card?
You’ve not made a great start – now it’s time to focus on what you promised and deliver for the people of the UK. Needs to concentrate in class. Could do better.