Housing and the next Government
• Most unpredictable election for many years
• Could produce a hung parliament without a clear option for stable Government
What do the public care about?
Housing - 11
Housing was not an election issue for most people in 2010
DefenceHousing
IraqPublic transport/ roads
AfghanistanProtect nat env./climate change
PenionsBenefits
Care for older peopleCrime/ law and order
UnemploymentTaxation
Asylum and immigrationEducation/ schools
HealthcareManaging the economy
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%3%3%3%3%
5%5%5%
7%7%
8%11%
12%14%
23%26%
32%
Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index
100 days from a general election
• Housing is high on the political agenda
• Media interest is also high but focus is on house prices
• Can we capitalise and make this the ‘housing general election’?
What are the parties saying?
Conservatives• Housing focus on first
time buyers – 100,000 at 20% discount
• Tough on welfare – lower welfare cap, no HB for under 21s
• NHS focus on GP access, yet to outline how they will meet NHS 5 year view funding gap
Labour• Lyons review – 200,000
homes a year by 2020, including garden cities
• Remove ‘bedroom tax’• Invest extra in NHS from
proceeds of mansion tax - £2.5bn more than Conservatives
• Increased focus on mental health
What are the parties saying?
Lib Dems• 300,000 homes a year,
including 5 garden cities• Major focus on mental
health, especially ‘parity of esteem’
• ‘Yellow card’ system rather than sanctions without warning
• Will meet £8bn funding gap identified by NHS 5 Year Forward View
Common ground• Continuing climate of
austerity
• Not enough detail on potential cuts – where will they fall?
• Health and care integration agenda
• Devolution
A single, clear message
THAT ALL POLITICAL PARTIES COMMIT TO
Political engagement
Our long-term plan
• For the first day of new Government
• Narrative on why housing associations are the answer to lots of problems
• Ideas on how to solve the housing crisis (land, investment and freedoms for housing associations)
• Our chance to articulate the wider role of housing associations and how they can be more effective and ambitious
Policy ideas so far…
• Can we create a ‘troubled families’ style approach for people with complex needs?
• What role for social investment?
• How do we safeguard current housing benefit spend?
Working with others…
• King’s Fund calling for NHS Transformation Fund – how can we make it work for housing associations?
• Care and Support Alliance call for extra investment in social care – fund equivalent to ‘moderate needs’
• Incentives to build ‘middle market’ retirement homes – ARCO, APPG on Older People
Thanks for listening!
Patrick Murray (Policy Officer Care & Support)Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7067 1192
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