SNP blasts Westminster for Scotland’s housing emergency

SNP blasts Westminster for Scotland’s housing emergency

0:02 AM, 20th June 2024, About 2 weeks ago

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The SNP blames Brexit and Westminster underinvestment for Scotland’s housing crisis.   

In the SNP’s manifesto dubbed ‘A Future Made In Scotland’ the party claims cuts made by the UK government have affected the Scottish budget for housing.

Earlier this year, the Scottish government, along with six councils across Scotland, officially declared a housing emergency.

Landlords leaving the PRS

The SNP says it will demand the UK government address Scotland’s housing crisis.

The manifesto says: “Tackle the housing emergency caused by decades of Westminster underinvestment, a hard Brexit and a £1.3bn cut to the Scottish government’s capital budget from the UK Government. The UK government must restore the cut to our Capital budget.”

The SNP claims the Scottish government have helped households by introducing rent caps.

However, many landlords have left the private rented sector in Scotland due to rent caps being introduced which has caused a huge issue in supply and demand.

According to The Scottish Association of Landlords, nearly 22,000 could have been lost from the private rented sector in the last year due to government legislation.

Expand delivery of social housing

Other policies include pushing for an annual uplift of Local Housing Allowance, whilst ensuring rental costs are taken into account.

The SNP wants to take control of housing benefits and local housing allowance.

The manifesto says: “Devolve Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance which will allow the Scottish government to take an innovative approach to tackle child poverty, expand the delivery of social housing and to help fund and encourage investment in house building.”

The SNP also promise to abolish the bedroom tax.

The manifesto says: “Scrap the cruel bedroom tax which punishes people claiming Universal Credit or housing benefit if they have a spare room in their rented council or housing association home.”


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