John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, commenting on new Local Government Association research showing the benefits of building more social housing, said:

“This research shows the huge cost of Conservative Ministers’ disastrous decision to slash funding for new social housing.

“Deep cuts to investment mean the country is now building 30,000 fewer social rented homes each year than we were with Labour, with higher rents for households and a higher housing benefit bill as a result.

“Labour will build a million low-cost homes over ten years, including the biggest council housebuilding programme for nearly 40 years.”