Sadiq Khan pledges to fix the London housing crisis as Goldsmith’s plan crumbles

Sadiq Khan today promised he would be the mayor to fix London’s housing crisis, by ensuring that more affordable homes are built.

He also branded Tory opponent Zac Goldsmith “out of touch” for his £450,000 starter homes proposals for first-time buyers.

In a speech this morning, Labour’s London Mayor candidate declared he would be “the council estate boy who fixes the Tory housing crisis.” The average deposit for buying a home in London is now over £100,000 – more than the average total cost of a flat in more than a third of the country.

Today’s comments come after Khan yesterday launched a new advertising campaign based on his affordable homes pledge while two new polls released over the past 24 hours show him with a commanding lead.

“This election is not just a referendum on the Tory housing crisis – it is a referendum on the type of homes we build in London,” Khan said today.

“Goldsmith doesn’t get it – the idea that his £450,000 Starter Homes are “affordable” is ludicrous.

“Even the average Starter Home will only be affordable to Londoners earning over £77,000 a year according to Shelter.

“Zac Goldsmith – let me tell you now – £450,000 is not affordable – you could not be more out of touch.”

Khan has pledged that half of all homes built will be affordable if he becomes Mayor of London, with a mix of homes for social rent, London living rent, and ‘part-buy part-rent’ to help struggling first-time buyers.

He said: “While Zac Goldsmith will build homes that Londoners will never be able to afford, I will build homes that Londoners on the average income can actually afford to buy or rent.’

“Social homes, London Living Rent Homes and affordable homes for first time buyers.”

Goldsmith has suffered further embarrassment today, after he failed to answer questions about football and the tube network in a London pop quiz on the BBC.