Borrow to build
The construction of more council houses could help provide homes to rent while boosting job creation and the wider economy. George Osborne should lift the borrowing caps on local authorities to make this happen. Only a few weeks ago Prime Minister David Cameron said again that ‘you can’t borrow your way out of a debt […]
Council borrowing: the cap doesn’t fit
The case for councils being allowed to borrow up to affordable limits to build more homes has been made before, but there was never a better time for the government to listen.
Mixed up over mutuals
The government’s plan to establish public sector mutuals – run by staff – will face a number of difficulties, not least European Union competition rules

Book Review: After Council Housing: Britain’s New Social Landlords by Hal Pawson and David Mullins
Was stock transfer a good idea? The odd thing about the question is that those answering ‘no’ straddle the political spectrum. Of course, Defend Council Housing has been opposing stock transfer since it was set up thirteen years ago when Labour was first elected. It was affronted that the new government not only continued but […]