The leader of the Liberal Democrats has called for a halt to the government’s right-to-buy policy, describing it as the key reason for the “catastrophic shortage of homes” in England.
Sir Vince Cable said that there must be “an immediate pause” on the scheme for both councils and housing associations until the homes that have been sold are replaced with more affordable housing.
Labour has pledged to scrap the scheme, while some Tories are rejecting the policy. David Bittleston, Conservative leader of Woking council, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme last week that it should be halted, otherwise the nation would “go on seeing people . . . losing the hope of being able to afford a property”.
