Boris Johnson to launch right-to-buy scheme so 5million more Brits can own a home
BORIS Johnson is set to emulate Margaret Thatcher and launch his own right-to-buy homes scheme.
The PM will kick-start a new plan that allows tenants in housing association properties to buy their homes, with their benefit payments used to help secure mortgages.
He hopes “generation rent” will take advantage of the process in the desire to see more working-class grafters in Red Wall seats back the Tories — and put any leadership challenges to bed.
Last week The Sun revealed he was being urged to go big on housing to help get millions of workers on the property ladder.
The 1980 right-to-buy revolution is widely seen as one of the Iron Lady’s best policies and won her millions of working class voters.
Tory insiders fear the party will lose dozens of councils in Thursday’s local elections after weeks of negative headlines over sexism, Partygate and the cost of living crisis.
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But they are setting their hopes on the homes scheme boosting the PM’s popularity.
One government source told the Telegraph: “The PM has got very excited about this. It could be hugely significant.
"In many ways it is a direct replica of the great Maggie idea of ‘buy your own council flat’.
“It is ‘buy your own housing association flat’.”
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Around five million people who live in homes rented from housing associations in England could benefit.
A similar scheme was included in the 2015 Tory election manifesto, but failed to happen when David Cameron left office a year later.
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The move comes as it emerged the building of 100,000 homes has been halted by Natural England over wetlands pollution fears.
Officials are understood to be “urgently investigating” measures to avoid the ban.