Simon Hughes says Lib Dems wouldn’t back Tory right to buy proposal

Simon Hughes has said that the Lib Dems would not back the Tories latest ‘right-to-buy’ proposals if the two parties were in coalition together post-May.

Hughes is the Lib Dem candidate for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, where he’s been the MP for 32 years. In an interview he said that the Tories announcement on right-to-buy (which would include housing association tenants and mean councils would have to sell off valuable council homes)  would have a “disastrous effect” in the South London constituency.

Hughes said:

“If the parliamentary arithmetic meant that there was any chance of [Lib Dem MPs] being asked to vote for that sort of policy, we wouldn’t vote for it.

“The Tories can put their manifesto on the ground, but nobody thinks that there’s going to be any party with a majority, so no party is going to be able to implement everything.”

However, it’s by no means a sure bet that Hughes will win in this race in May. Labour’s canddiate, Neil Coyle, is making good ground in the constituency and also launched blistering attack on the Tory proposals, slamming the Lib Dems in his critique:

“This is a half baked, unworkable idea from the Tories which will mean fewer homes for local people.

“Under this Coalition Government the number of affordable homes built is at is lowest for 20 years and home ownership is at its lowest point for three decades.

“Labour’s manifesto set out a better plan for all local first time buyers to get priority access to homes built.

“Labour will tackle the housing crisis getting at least 200,000 homes built a year by 2020 and introducing a £5 billion Future Homes Fund to support the building of homes for first time buyers and make homeownership a realistic aspiration for working people.“

Either way, if the Lib Dems won’t back extended Right to Buy – and the Tory chances of a majority seem miniscule – does this mean the Tories’ flagship manifesto pledge is dead in the water?