Spokesman Books

by Cathy Davis & Alan Wigfield Some 4.5 million people are waiting for good quality, permanent council and housing association homes. In response to equally devastating shortages in 1945, Attlee's newly elected Labour Government prioritised council house-building, built to a high standard. We draw inspiration from this experience, and argue that a future government needs to emulate this achievement, prioritise high standard housing and 'build the houses – quick!' This timely pamphlet develops the argument advanced in the authors' socialist critique of New Labour’s record, Housing: Did it have to be like this? (published in 2010), by taking account of developments under the Coalition Government and making proposals for a fundamental change of direction. For 15 years, privatisation has dominated discussion about the future of housing in the UK. This series of pamphlets will get people re-thinking priorities and planning alternatives. Let’s build the houses – quick! ...

A socialist critique of New Labour's performance By Cathy Davis & Alan Wigfield 'If New Labour had abolished the Right to Buy and instituted a large scale local authority building and modernisation programme, if it had created a sector of good quality affordable rented housing that a wide range of citizens might be proud to live in and that was democratically accountable, we would now be looking at a completely different scenario. As it is, they failed collectively to recognize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented to them by their election in 1997. In doing so, thirteen years of New Labour have made it much easier for the Conservatives and Liberals to cut and transfer and abolish.' Dr Cathy Davis, University of Salford Alan Wigfield, Sheffield Hallam University , Chair, Sheffield City Council Housing Committee 1986-92 Socialist Renewal no. 53 978 085124 782 3 £6.00 36 pages Pamphlet