Conservative plans to allow Scottish social tenants the right to buy their own home, have been described as having, “no place in 21st century Scotland”.
The remarks came from Mary Taylor, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, who also accused the Conservatives of ignoring the “housing crisis” the country faces.
Yesterday at the Scottish Conservative party’s manifesto launch in Glasgow, Scottish leader Ruth Davidson said that she and the party would “demand” the Scottish Government “changed tack” on legislation that has ended right to buy in Scotland.
Davidson said: “We know that the dream of owning your own home is just as strong in Scotland as anywhere else in the UK.”
The Glasgow MSP continued: “We’ll demand the SNP changes tack. And we’ll demand it goes further by backing a “step by step” plan so social tenants can gradually take ownership of their rented home”.
Responding to those comments Taylor said that Davidson’s announcement was “not relevant”.
“This is a Westminster Election” Taylor said, “and housing policy is devolved in Scotland. It detracts from the real issue at stake – there is a housing crisis across the whole of the UK, and we need all political parties to sign up to solving it by increasing the supply of social homes, not selling off much needed stock.”
The Chief Executive continued: “Right to Buy has had its day and has no place in 21st Century Scotland. It has been beneficial to a relatively small number of individuals but clearly a loss to the greater public good. Approximately half a million social rented homes have been lost in the 35 years of this policy in Scotland, very often the better stock in the more popular areas.
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations is the membership body for the 119 housing associations in Scotland. The chief executive also expressed concern that the extension of right to buy legislation in England would have a knock-on effect for affordable housing in Scotland.
During the manifesto launch, Davidson criticised the “the soggy, centre-left consensus” that pervades Scotland. The Tory leader also attacked the “shibboleth” of free higher education and said that there was “nothing just about fewer poor kids going to university” while middle class children received, “bigger subsidies”. Davidson said that Scotland needed to have a “long, hard look” at its spending priorities.
Davidson ended her speech, which was well received by the party members in the hall, by saying that the Conservatives were “coming for the SNP and Labour”.
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