Tory MP’s policy plans branded ‘frightening’
Landlords last night reacted badly to housing reform proposals put forward by the Conservative MP who would lead on social policy under a Tory government.
Iain Duncan Smith ruffled feathers at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual presidential dinner with a controversial speech on housing. During a lengthy turn at the podium, the former Tory party leader criticised security of tenure and suggested offering ‘well-behaved’ tenants a stake in their home.
Mr Duncan Smith, who chairs rightwing think tank the Centre for Social Justice, railed against monotenure estates and claimed that children living in poverty suffered irreparable damage unless they received help before the age of three. ‘You know these people, they are living on your estates,’ he said.
Mr Duncan Smith said his comments did not reflect Conservative policy, but he is seen as very influential within the party, and Tory leader David Cameron has said he will play a key role in ‘work to help mend the broken society’ under a Conservative government.
Despite praising social landlords’ efforts to tackle financial exclusion and singling Notting Hill Housing out for special praise, Mr Duncan Smith’s speech received a hostile reaction. Guests branded the speech ‘right wing’ and ‘frightening’.
CIH president Howard Farrand described the speech as ‘thought-provoking’. ‘It recognised that the work of housing professionals touches aspects of so many people’s lives,’ he said.
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Readers' comments (6)
Adrian Pepper | 11/02/2010 3:13 pm
Why does this article not quote the people who branded the speech frightening? What do they feel threatened by? What would be really frightening is letting sink estates go on as they are. IDS may not have all the solutions but lets at least have a constructive debate about addressing social problems.
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alex kendall | 11/02/2010 3:27 pm
Tory leopard showing its true spots? The hard right of the Tory party has never changed, remember the Federation of Conservative students, have they materialised with David Cameron in the 21 century?? Remember what the FCS said about Nelson Mandela?? Love A
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alex kendall | 11/02/2010 3:48 pm
who scraped the 100% grant rate in 1988??? Do not lecture those hard working people in social housing!! Shame you will not debate Building Futures
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London Tenant | 11/02/2010 7:57 pm
Alex - Mr. Shapps is very busy awaiting the million people that his "Right to Move" policy is going to help.
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Brian Capaloff | 11/02/2010 10:49 pm
'Thought provoking'!! IDS supposedly doesn't represent the views of the opposition so why can't the CIH President call a shovel a shovel? The picture he paints of a potential Conservative future are frightening for anyone who truly cares about the idea of sustainable communities.
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kass | 11/02/2010 11:37 pm
"Despite praising social landlords’ efforts to tackle financial exclusion and singling Notting Hill Housing out for special praise, Mr Duncan Smith’s speech received a hostile reaction. Guests branded the speech ‘right wing’ and ‘frightening’."
Only Duncan Smith could have chosen to single out Notting Hill Housing for special praise. It sums up the 'special'e relationship reactionary tories sections have with the sometimes subtle sometimes blatant anti-secure tenacy leanings of Notting Hill Housing executives... Duncan Smith lost his leadership and now is trying to scupper anything positive (which is not much anyway) the tories could do in social housing.
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