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.The Conservatives refused to build more social housing because they worried it would create more Labour voters, Nick Clegg has said.
Speaking ahead of the release of his new book, Politics Between the Extremes, the former Deputy Prime Minister said top figures on David Cameron’s team viewed housing as a “petri dish”.
“It would have been in a Quad meeting, so either Cameron or Osborne. One of them – I honestly can’t remember whom – looked genuinely nonplussed and said, ‘I don’t understand why you keep going on about the need for more social housing – it just creates Labour voters.’ They genuinely saw housing as a petri dish for voters. It was unbelievable,” he said.
The tale, relayed by Mr Clegg in an interview with The Guardian, echoes an account made by him in February this year in which he said the Conservatives view housing policy as an attempt to “shoot Labour’s fox”.
Housing tenure is widely regarded as a strong indicator of voting intention, with owner-occupiers significantly more likely to vote Conservative while private renters and social tenants vote Labour. The Conservatives have moved to dismantle social housing during their time in office. An extension of Right To Buy discounts has accelerated the sell-off of social homes while councils have been given little ability to beg or borrow money to build genuine social housing.
A further extension of Right To Buy to housing associations was additionally turned into a two-pronged attack against social housing – with funding for the expensive policy raised by selling off high-value social homes.
Social housing providers have also been encouraged to build so-called “affordable” homes – often in reality at unaffordable rents – rather than traditional social housing.
Security of tenure is being abolished for new tenants while higher-earning council tenants are facing substantial rent rises that encourage them to buy their home through Right To Buy.
The Government has consistently said it wants to boost owner-occupation and create a bigger private rented sector. Theresa May has said she wants to close Britain’s “homes deficit” to end the housing shortage.
Nick Clegg was the Deputy Prime Minister in the Liberal Democrat-Conservative Coalition Government between 2010 and 2015. He retained his seat at the general election but saw dozens of his MPs booted out of Parliament, with only six remaining.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments