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The Prime Minister has failed to guarantee social housing tenants would get new homes in their areas once they're demolished.

The Tories' new housing bill contains a string of measures which could drastically reduce the country's stocks of social housing, which thousands rely on to keep a secure roof over their heads.

There are rule changes, sell-offs and pledges to bulldoze homes.

But at Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon, Jeremy Corbyn warned the £140m promised to bulldoze sink estates was a 'drop in the ocean' that wouldn't even cover the cost of the bulldozers.

He said: "This week the PM rather belatedly acknowledged there’s a housing crisis in Britain".

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Describing the money as a “drop in the ocean", he added: "It isn’t even going to pay for the bulldozers, is it?”

In response David Cameron said more council houses have been built under his leadership than Labour did in 13 years of rule.

He went on to describe Mr Corbyn as a 'small c conservative' for his opponent's attitude on his housing.

But Mr Corbyn said “he clearly hasn’t thought this through”.

He pointed out affordable homes will include houses to buy for £450,000, not just those to rent.

Yet the PM replied with a political jibe.

“I accept this isn’t as carefully thought through as his reshuffle," he sniped. "I gather it’s still going on, it hasn’t actually finished yet.”

Mr Corbyn asked if poor families would be able to afford starter homes costing a staggering £450,000 in London.

“I very much hope they will,” Mr Cameron replied, admitting there are no guarantees.

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He told tenants: “We are on your side. You can buy your own home. Why does [Corbyn] still oppose that?”

But Mr Corbyn damned Cameron with statistics from Shelter.

They show people on the new ‘national living wage’ won’t be able to afford starter homes in 98% of council areas.

The Prime Minister replied with an attempt to paint himself as the saviour of the poor.

He said: “He owns his home. I own my home. Why can’t we let those 1.3million people live in their homes?”

It was pointed out on Twitter that Mr Cameron lives in 10 Downing Street, which he definitely doesn't own.

Mr Corbyn’s final question on the subject was from 'Linda', a council tenant for 25 years.

“I will eventually look to downsize to a property suitable for our ageing circumstances,” she writes.

But under the new Housing Bill, downsizing would lose Linda her secure tenancy under plans to abolish all lifetime tenancies for council tenants.

Mr Cameron said Linda should celebrate the Tories’ ambition to let her buy her home - if she can afford it.

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He said: “We’ve got a Labour party who’ve got a housing policy that doesn’t believe in home ownership.

“Just as they’ve got a defence policy that doesn’t believe in defence.

“Just as we’ve now got a Labour party that doesn’t believe in work and a Labour leader who doesn’t believe in Britain.”

This last comment prompted long jeers from the opposition benches.

(Image: PA)

Speaking after PMQs, Labour sources warned “frightened” tenants and homeowners on targeted estates feared they could become victims of “social cleansing”.

“Nobody is sure what will happen when they demolish these areas they talk about,” said an aide to Mr Corbyn.

“There has to be a suspicion of social cleansing.

“Everyone feels insecure - and I think with good reason.”

(Image: Getty Images)

The Commons clash “proved the Prime Minister has woken up to the fact there is a housing crisis but doesn't know how to deal with it”, they source claimed.

No 10 aides insisted an advisory panel would draw up “clear guarantees for tenants and people who live on these estates on what happens next.”

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They added: “Clearly each estate will be different and there will be work going on on the estate very closely with the people who live there to get the right way forward, the way forward they agree with and support.

“It's very important that there is reassurance for people who live there.”