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John Healey on Grenfell, Boris Johnson and Labour housing policy

Nathaniel Barker talks to Housing 2019 keynote speaker John Healey MP about conferences past, Grenfell, Boris Johnson, Labour policy – and his oven. Photography by Guzelian

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“We’ve had to urge action from ministers on every front, as only government can tackle the problems that Grenfell exposed.” We speak to John Healey at #CIHHousing

John Healey: “We’d set up a new, fully fledged housing department to recognise the scale of the housing crisis” #ukhousing #CIHHousing

John Healey’s views on Grenfell, Boris Johnson and Labour housing policy #ukhousing #CIHHousing

You’re becoming something of a Housing conference and exhibition veteran. Are there any years at the event that have particularly stuck in your memory?

My first CIH [Chartered Institute of Housing] conference was in 2009. It was my first week as the new housing minister and officials advised against me accepting, saying: “The CIH conference is full of the field’s experts. It’s too soon to do this.”

I told them: “That’s exactly why I should do it.”

I remember being cross-examined by Mark Easton on stage, several days into the job. The CIH members have rightly proved a tough crowd for me at conferences ever since.


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You’ve been vocal in accusing the government of not acting fast enough on fire safety since Grenfell. What makes you think Labour would have done better?

We understood from day one that a national disaster of the scale of Grenfell requires a national response from government.

We’ve had to urge action from ministers on every front, as only government can tackle the problems that Grenfell exposed – from getting unsafe ACM [aluminium composite material] cladding removed, to testing other suspect cladding systems, to guaranteeing residents a stronger voice, to overhauling the building safety system.

More than two years on, Conservative ministers still haven’t taken these vital steps.

Boris Johnson looks set to become prime minister. How do you think this could affect housing policy?

Making predictions in politics is a fool’s game, especially in these Brexit-dominated days. I wouldn’t bank on Boris Johnson to win.

I certainly wouldn’t bank on him to fundamentally changing Conservative housing policy. His track record is full of promises made, then broken.

In London, he promised to end rough sleeping in three years, but it more than doubled while he was mayor.

What housing policy would you implement first if Labour wins office?

We’d set up a new, fully fledged housing department to recognise the scale of the housing crisis. We would knock heads together in Whitehall and lead a housing drive on all fronts, from an end to rough sleeping, to legislation for private renters, to building a million truly affordable homes.

How many ovens have you got?

One double oven – that’s more than enough for us.

John Healey, shadow secretary of state for housing, will give the keynote address at 3.30pm on Wednesday 26 June in the Auditorium

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The latest news headlines from the conference:

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John Healey blasts May's housing record

Don't wait for Hackitt legislation to push ahead with building safety, says MHCLG official

Theresa May: ‘social housing a victim of drive for homeownership’

‘No-deal Brexit an opportunity for housing’, claim sector figures

Banks’ appetite to lend threatens offsite take-up, warns major landlord

Minister: funding allocations should be based on joint-agency working

Sector warned that fire safety costs could eat up HRA cap windfall

Theresa May to give speech at Housing 2019 conference

Regulator ‘found no breaches’ following Dispatches programme on Sanctuary

No funding for removal of combustible balconies, says Malthouse

MHCLG housing supply chief: affordable housing grant increase ‘on the table’ for Spending Review

‘We have got to do the right thing’ on affordable housing, says land director of Homes England

Council boss warns against local authority ‘can’t do’ attitude towards housebuilding

Terrie Alafat says Spending Review must ‘make a real difference’

Sector needs £146bn from government over a decade to end housing crisis, says NHF

Savills housing sector survey: building homes more important than existing stock to housing leaders

Morning Briefing: thousands descend on Manchester for Housing 2019

 

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