Labour to focus on housing and homelessness in Holyrood proposal

Labour is set to bring housing and homelessness issues to the forefront in Holyrood this week with a Parliamentary motion aimed at criticising the Scottish Government for failing to address the housing emergency. The party’s move comes on the heels of recent official figures revealing a surge in homelessness alongside a decline in the construction of new properties, prompting calls for housing minister Paul McLennan to step down.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar expressed outrage after statistics showed that a staggering 33,619 households in Scotland were homeless in 2023-24, with a record-breaking 10,110 children among the 16,330 households living in temporary accommodation. Meanwhile, the number of new homes completed by June 2024 dropped by 17%, with councils and housing associations contributing a mere 5,053 properties, marking a 25% decrease.

Labour plans to challenge the government on this critical issue during a debate scheduled for Wednesday. In anticipation of the debate, the party’s housing spokesperson Mark Griffin criticised the SNP’s housing track record, stating, “The SNP’s record on housing is one of abject failure, and the most vulnerable people in Scotland are paying the price.” He emphasised the dire situation for children without a permanent home and those stranded in temporary accommodation.

Griffin accused the SNP of exacerbating the housing crisis despite acknowledging its severity, citing budget cuts to affordable housing and the collapse of housebuilding under their watch. He pledged that Labour would hold the government accountable for its failures, vowing to challenge the status quo and demand action.

Meanwhile, a Scottish Government spokesperson defended their housing policies, highlighting the delivery of over 133,000 affordable homes since 2007, with a significant portion allocated for social rent. The spokesperson underscored ongoing investments in affordable housing, including nearly £600 million in the Affordable Housing Supply Programme this year, with a target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032.

To address the pressing needs of local authorities grappling with housing shortages, the government plans to allocate £40 million from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme towards the purchase of existing homes and the rejuvenation of long-term vacant properties. They stressed the importance of a collaborative effort involving UK, Scottish, and local governments, as well as housing providers, to effectively combat the housing emergency.

As the debate unfolds in Holyrood, the spotlight is firmly on the government’s response to the housing crisis, with Labour leading the charge for meaningful change and accountability.