Andy Burnham has promised the biggest council house-building programme since World War II, but critics say it is doomed to fail, just like Keir Starmer's housing pledges. The Greater Manchester Mayor's plan, announced yesterday, aims to address the loss of nearly 1.5 million council homes since the 1980s, which he blames for rising demand for social housing and soaring housing benefit costs. However, political commentator Harvey Jones argues that the pledge is 'pure, proven, political fantasy.'
Similar Traps as Starmer
Jones draws parallels between Burnham and Starmer, noting that both made grand promises that excited the Labour Party but were impossible to deliver. 'Burnham is making the same grand promises, whipping up the same excitement inside the Labour Party, and pursuing the same impossible policies,' Jones writes. 'Which means he's heading towards the same outcome.' He predicts Burnham will soon be as unpopular as Starmer, though with 'a bit more wit and charm.'
Previous Housing Failures
Jones points to a history of unmet housing targets. In 2007, Labour aimed for 240,000 homes a year but achieved only 142,000. Boris Johnson pledged 300,000 homes annually in 2019, but the figure reached just 150,000. Starmer's 1.5 million homes target over five years (300,000 per year) resulted in only 143,000 in the year to March. 'The construction industry doesn't have the labour, the skills or the land,' Jones says. 'And with Reeves taxing anything that moves, they don't have the incentives either.'
Economic and Demographic Realities
Jones highlights that housebuilding has been declining due to higher interest rates, rising labour and material costs. He cites Barratt Redrow's completions falling from 17,200 in 2022 to 14,000 in 2023. 'Even Chancellor Rachel Reeves can see that the second number is smaller than the first,' he quips. Furthermore, the UK population has grown by nine million in 20 years, exacerbating housing shortages. 'Even magic Manchesterism can't wish that inconvenient fact away,' Jones adds.
Lack of Funding
Burnham has not explained how he will fund the massive programme. Starmer pledged £39 billion for social and affordable housing, but it made no difference. 'The problem Burnham faces is that there's even less money available today,' Jones notes. Sarcastically, he suggests the funds might come from the defence budget, implying that after defeating Vladimir Putin with 'magic Manchesterism,' the UK won't need missiles or frigates.
Conclusion
Jones concludes that the council house pledge is 'totally dishonest and a shambles waiting to happen.' He warns that Burnham is setting himself up to fail before he has even started. 'I never did believe in magic anyway. Our new PM clearly does,' he writes.
