Lib Dems deliver on council housing

As a Lib Dem council leader, I know what it’s like trying to sort out decades of mismanagement by previous Labour administrations. We inherited services which were a complete shambles and have turned them around. A lot of Lib Dem administrations in Britain’s cities have been in the same position.

Now, for the first time in 25 years, Islington’s Lib Dem council has built new council homes. I was delighted to hand over the keys to the first tenants only this week. Those homes were built by a Lib Dem council without a single penny of government money.

Nothing from this government comes without strings attached. This cash for new homes has to be match funded, and most authorities just don’t have that sort of money in the bank. Our strategy of selling our commercial property portfolio to fund new housing meant we could afford the match funding and get access to government money to expand our programme. Local Labour councillors opposed our strategy of selling commercial properties to fund these new homes.

I think the electorate knows just how badly Labour has failed them on tackling overcrowding - they have delivered fewer new homes than the Tories. And Gordon Brown’s government’s raid on decent homes funds tore up the promises made to councils up and down the country and has left people waiting for vital improvements to their homes.

Meanwhile, my residents are not ‘disappointed’, Mr Healey, they are delighted by their Liberal Democrat-built new homes.

Terry Stacy JP, leader of Islington Council, London N1

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