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Local houses for local people.
bo_drinker
Posts: 3,924 Forumite
A bit late in the day 
Young families to leapfrog housing waiting list
John Healey (Pic:DM)
Local people with strong ties to their community are to queue-jump council house waiting lists as part of Gordon Brown's relaunch plans today.
In a major revamp of policy, town halls are to be told they can give priority for new homes to those with families in the area.
People who have been on council house waiting lists for a long time will also be allowed to move to the head of the queue.
Aimed at young local families who have missed out on affordable rents, it will coincide with a massive expansion of homes being built.
Housing minister John Healey said: "When people see new homes in their communities they need to believe that they, their friends or families have a fair shot at living in them. At the moment a lot of people don't feel that way.
"We need to free up the system so councils can do more to help those who have spent a long time on waiting lists or those with strong local or family connections. We want a fair system where council housing gives more young people a good start in life and improves people's prospects of getting a job."
The move is part of the relaunch to win back Labour voters and show Mr Brown still has radical plans to transform the country. The number of people on housing waiting lists is expected to hit five million next year.
Homes going to asylum-seekers is seen as a key reason behind the surge in support for the fascist BNP.
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Mr Healey denied the policy was pandering to extremists, saying anger at lack of social housing not only spread across white working-class families but Bangladeshi and West Indian communities too.
But critics claimed it failed to tackle the core issue - the lack of cheap homes.
Tory spokesman Grant Shapps blasted: They can try to rearrange the furnishings now but the fundamental point is that if you do not build enough affordable housing this is the sort of mess you end up in."
Lib Dem Sarah Teather added: "The problem is the queue, not the mechanism for queue jumping."
Further Government plans include NHS patients being able to see a specialist within two weeks if they are diagnosed with cancer. And there will be a new right for people to see a hospital expert within 18 weeks of being referred by GPs. Over-40s will have a right to a health MoT.
In plans for schools - to be unveiled tomorrow - parents will be given rights to grade schools on discipline and teaching.
The changes come as a YouGov poll shows Labour is still losing support. The Tories are on 40%, Labour on 24% and Lib Dems 17%.
5 MILLION
the number of people expected to be on council house waiting lists by 2010
Young families to leapfrog housing waiting list
John Healey (Pic:DM)
Local people with strong ties to their community are to queue-jump council house waiting lists as part of Gordon Brown's relaunch plans today.
In a major revamp of policy, town halls are to be told they can give priority for new homes to those with families in the area.
People who have been on council house waiting lists for a long time will also be allowed to move to the head of the queue.
Aimed at young local families who have missed out on affordable rents, it will coincide with a massive expansion of homes being built.
Housing minister John Healey said: "When people see new homes in their communities they need to believe that they, their friends or families have a fair shot at living in them. At the moment a lot of people don't feel that way.
"We need to free up the system so councils can do more to help those who have spent a long time on waiting lists or those with strong local or family connections. We want a fair system where council housing gives more young people a good start in life and improves people's prospects of getting a job."
The move is part of the relaunch to win back Labour voters and show Mr Brown still has radical plans to transform the country. The number of people on housing waiting lists is expected to hit five million next year.
Homes going to asylum-seekers is seen as a key reason behind the surge in support for the fascist BNP.
Advertisement - article continues below »
Mr Healey denied the policy was pandering to extremists, saying anger at lack of social housing not only spread across white working-class families but Bangladeshi and West Indian communities too.
But critics claimed it failed to tackle the core issue - the lack of cheap homes.
Tory spokesman Grant Shapps blasted: They can try to rearrange the furnishings now but the fundamental point is that if you do not build enough affordable housing this is the sort of mess you end up in."
Lib Dem Sarah Teather added: "The problem is the queue, not the mechanism for queue jumping."
Further Government plans include NHS patients being able to see a specialist within two weeks if they are diagnosed with cancer. And there will be a new right for people to see a hospital expert within 18 weeks of being referred by GPs. Over-40s will have a right to a health MoT.
In plans for schools - to be unveiled tomorrow - parents will be given rights to grade schools on discipline and teaching.
The changes come as a YouGov poll shows Labour is still losing support. The Tories are on 40%, Labour on 24% and Lib Dems 17%.
5 MILLION
the number of people expected to be on council house waiting lists by 2010
I came in to this world with nothing and I've still got most of it left. :rolleyes:
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