According to a YouGov survey, 62% of people think the idea of short term council house tenancy is a good idea. I wonder how many of the people who took part in the survey live in council houses?

Interesting phone call this morning in which a little Dickie bird tells me that Vince Cable would be interested in my idea of using the Government owned banks to structure a lending package for council house purchase. The proceeds of which, would be channeled into a further package to finance the building of new social housing, which would ensure a more adequate supply. Thereby, giving everyone a fairer chance of securing a house and an almost definite 'leg up' in terms of social mobility.

The problem with social housing today is that those striving to improve their situation are excluded. As an example, two newly married rural workers in my constituency who between them earn £27k pa have applied for social housing. Because they are sleeping on a sofa at a parents house they are not officially classed as homeless. Nor do they have a baby. What they want is a home first, however, due to the shortage, the only way they can get one is if they split up and she becomes homeless and pregnant. A drug problem would help their case too.

That is the legacy of Labour to the young and struggling would be family.