SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 29/08/05
Scottish Socialist Party national convenor Colin Fox MSP today welcomed a survey by YouGov on behalf of Shelter, which showed that Scots prioritise safety and long term security over home ownership
Colin said:
"This survey shows that successive Labour-Tory governments have sold the Scottish people a lie.
"We were told by Thatcher that home ownership was the holy grail; that selling off council housing was the future and that the property boom would last forever.
"Yet 20 years on, homelessness is at a record level, and even professional workers like firefighters, teachers and nurses are unable to afford a roof over their heads in our major cities.
"New Labour have perpetuated the myth that home ownership is the only answer.
"Yet this survey shows that despite the propaganda war against social housing, there is still demand for good quality, affordable housing for rent.
"It's time to meet this demand. Instead of encouraging private developers to turn every tiny square of land into yuppie flats, the Executive and local authorities should heed this call for affordable homes."
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