Boris Johnson considers giving housing association tenants the right to buy
The Prime Minister reportedly told officials to revive the previously mooted plans in the last fortnight.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tenants would be given the right to buy the homes they rent from housing associations under plans understood to be under consideration by Boris Johnson.
The Prime Minister told officials to draw up the plans in the last fortnight to help young people struggling to get on to the property ladder in England, the Telegraph reported.
The proposal for renters to be able to purchase their social homes at a discounted price is not new, having appeared in David Cameron’s 2015 Conservative manifesto.
Though that plan failed to materialise, Mr Johnson committed to consider new pilots for the scheme ahead of the 2019 general election.
His bid to revive the plans were pitched as being inspired by Margaret Thatcher giving council tenants the right to buy in 1980.
But it came as the Tory campaign for Thursday’s local elections was hit by a fresh scandal on top of partygate.
Conservative Neil Parish said he would resign as the MP for Tiverton and Honiton after admitting twice watching pornography in the Commons.
On Sunday, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng insisted Mr Johnson would “absolutely” remain leader no matter how badly the Tories fared in the council elections.
Pressure was also on Sir Keir Starmer to lead Labour to significant gains when polls in 200 local authorities across Britain open on Thursday.
Details of the latest proposals were thin, with questions remaining about how housing associations would be compensated and how their stock would be replenished.
The Telegraph suggested a connected idea being considered is for Government spending on housing benefit to be used to help recipients get mortgages.