Right-to-buy defended as Housing Bill debated under new EVEL rules

Last Updated: November 2, 2015By


One cannot help but notice the indecent haste with which English Votes for English Laws (EVEL) has been introduced and put into practice.

The proposed new powers for the Scottish Parliament, which also arose following the Scottish independence referendum, has yet to become law, despite having the more obvious right to attention.

It is a clear indication of the priorities held by the Conservative Government that they have rushed into law new rules that give them more power in a large part of the UK, rather than honouring their commitment to people elsewhere – new rules that were opportunistically foisted on the nation with no warning, the day after the referendum took place.

Ministers have defended their plans to extend the right-to-buy to housing association tenants as parties clashed over the government’s Housing Bill.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said it would lead to an increase in housing stock and help people “realise the dream” of home ownership.

But Labour predicted a “fire sale” of affordable homes.

The Housing and Planning Bill is the first to be considered under new “English votes for English laws” rules.

Source: Right-to-buy defended as Housing Bill debated – BBC News

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8 Comments

  1. AndyH November 2, 2015 at 10:42 pm - Reply

    Great – so the government has a majority of 67 instead of 12.

    • chris November 3, 2015 at 3:16 pm - Reply

      no they don’t, many laws are UK wide

      • Mike Sivier November 3, 2015 at 8:33 pm - Reply

        He meant with regard to this issue. As it was debated under EVEL, he was referring to the fact that non-English MPs won’t have a voice. In fact, my understanding is that on EVEL votes, the Conservative majority leaps to 104.

  2. ian725 November 3, 2015 at 1:08 am - Reply

    It will be the same catastrophe for ordinary people as it was before with the rich and property Speculators ending triumphant – just like before. History repeats itself. Let’s not forget that EVEL benefits the Tories and gives them more control over the FAR LARGER part of the UK – in effect, control over the UK.

  3. Joan Edington November 3, 2015 at 11:29 am - Reply

    I get the feeling many of those English voters who screamed for EVEL, simply because they were fed up of hearing about what Scotland might get, will be regretting that attitude soon.

    • Mike Sivier November 3, 2015 at 11:31 am - Reply

      It’s no less than they’ll deserve for being so easily led.

      • Joan Edington November 3, 2015 at 5:53 pm - Reply

        Maybe so but, unfortunately, it is not just them that will be made to suffer.

        • Mike Sivier November 3, 2015 at 8:39 pm - Reply

          Agreed.

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