Portsmouth MP, Stephen Morgan has orchestrated a visit to Portsmouth from the Rt. Hon. John Healey MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing. The purpose of the visit was to highlight the housing challenges faced by the city resulting from government policy and to draw attention to Labour’s housing proposals and plan to end homelessness.

This government’s regime of rising rents, stagnant wages, reductions in welfare benefits and cuts to social support services, has led to an increasingly severe housing crisis for the people of Portsmouth.

Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH)  has identified an objectively assessed need for between 593 and 768 new units of affordable housing in Portsmouth every year.

On this matter, Mr. Morgan has said:

“In the past 5 years, over 3,000 households have made a homeless application, the number of rough sleepers was over 8 times greater in 2017 than it was in 2013 and there is a shortfall of over 3,500 affordable homes. It is a fact that Portsmouth is in housing crisis.

I welcome today’s visit from the Shadow Housing Secretary, it highlights Labour’s commitment to address the housing crisis perpetuated by this failing government “

The nation is experiencing a severe loss of affordable homes, with over 170,000 fewer council homes than were in existence in 2010. With recent housebuilding figures highlighting that numbers of new homes being built hasn’t returned to the level it was before the global financial crisis and number of new social homes being built has fallen by 80% nationally.

To highlight the pressure resulting from a lack of affordable houses being built, the Shadow Housing Secretary, John Healey today accompanied Mr. Morgan on a walk about Portsmouth. A visit to Horatia and Leamington House was also undertaken during a busy afternoon in the city.

The two tower blocks have recently grabbed headlines following concerns over the concrete structure as a result of the removal of cladding. Mr. Morgan and Mr. Healey were accompanied by two senior council officers, including the officer responsible for overseeing the project.

The 800 residents in all 272 flats in the two blocks are in the process of being moved out.

John Healey MP said:

“Government Ministers could make this much needed housing scheme much easier if they backed Portsmouth council with funding support and powers to get a better mix of new, low-cost homes for Portsmouth people.” 

Following the site visit to Horatia and Leamington House, Mr. Morgan, alongside the Shadow Secretary, hosted a seminar for community campaigners and local election candidates. The roundtable focused on Labour’s strategy for addressing the housing crisis and plans for ending homelessness.

The main focal point is the plan for how a Labour government could build a million low-cost affordable homes over ten years, available to both rent and buy and to launch the biggest council housebuilding programme for over 30 years.

The Shadow Secretary of State also discussed Labour’s plans to offer central government grants worth £4 billion a year for affordable homes, something that would heavily reduce the strain on local authorities, who have seen nearly 60% cut of their funding since 2010. 

Stephen Morgan MP said:

“Portsmouth needs a government who will help us tackle the housing problems and pressure that I see my constituents face on a daily basis. We need more low-cost homes for local families. We need an end to rough sleeping which has doubled in recent years in our city. Labour is the only party with the ambition to take these steps both nationally and locally.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, John Healey MP added:

“What I have seen today in a proud city like Portsmouth is something happening all over the country. Everyone knows someone who can’t get the home they need. People in Portsmouth need low-cost homes to live in, and the council needs the capacity to play a big role in house building.

Under a Labour Government and a Labour run Portsmouth we’d do exactly that. That’s why I’m here today to support MP Stephen Morgan and his great team of Labour council candidates for the May elections. 

“Labour in the Civic Offices working with a Labour Government in Westminster would build a million new genuinely affordable homes over 10 years, and kick start the biggest council house building programme in more than 30 years.” 

It is important that on 2 May, a clear message is sent to the government. The country cannot take any more hacks to housing. The government is failing to tackle the housing crisis. There is a housing problem, Labour has the solution.