Yahoo News London housing crisis: Renters to get three-year tenancies under plans in Lib Dem manifesto
Renters would by default get three-year tenancies in new agreements under plans in the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto which could ease London’s housing crisis.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, pledged a “fair deal for renters” as he outlined the Lib Dems’ proposals for government.
They also include a ban on no-fault evictions and a national register of licensed landlords.
Sir Ed said: “Across the country, thousands of renters are at risk of losing their homes at the mercy of exploitative no-fault evictions.
“The Conservatives promised to implement a ban back in 2019, but after five years of infighting, they have failed to honour that commitment.
“That is why Liberal Democrats today are announcing our fair deal for renters.”
He stressed that more than 21,000 renters, including around 4,000 in London, had faced a Section 21 eviction notice since Theresa May first pledged to outlaw them in 2019.
The Lib Dems are targeting three seats in London, trying to win from the Tories the constituencies of Wimbledon, Carshalton and Wallington, and Sutton and Cheam.
They are also seeking a “Portillo moment” by ousting Jeremy Hunt in the Surrey seat of Godalming and Ash.
Defence Secretary Mr Portillo was famously defeated in Enfield Southgate during the Tony Blair landslide victory in 1997.
But Mr Hunt has vowed to defend the so-called Blue Wall in southern England, including his new constituency, “brick by brick”.
The Lib Dems are also defending three seats in the capital, including Sir Ed’s own in Kingston and Surbiton, Richmond Park, and Twickenham.
Meanwhile, Sir Ed stressed that the Lib Dems would fund a £9.4 billion package for the NHS and social care in England by hiking taxes for banks and closing loopholes used by the very wealthy.
He was unveiling his party’s manifesto, in London, with the Tories, the Green Party and Labour also expected to set out their election pledges within days.
The Lib Dems plans include steps to improve cancer care, repair hospitals, a right to see a GP within seven days, improving access to NHS dental care and wider availability of mental health services.
Sir Ed ruled out increases to income tax, VAT and national insurance contributions.
Instead his party would will fund its plan through tightening capital gains tax rules to squeeze an extra £5 billion out of the wealthiest 0.1 per cent in the country and a £4 billion tax hike for banks.
The Lib Dems’ proposals gain significant more importance if there is a hung Parliament and Labour, which is expected to be the biggest party, needs the backing of one of the smaller parties to be able to govern.
They are proposing that an extra £3.7 billion a year for day-to-day spending, helping to recruit 4,000 GPs and retain a further 4,000 within the profession.
The party plans to boost cancer survival rates and introduce a guarantee for 100 per cent of patients to start treatment for cancer within 62 days from urgent referral.
Some £1 billion a year would be earmarked for capital investment in hospitals, equipment and other health infrastructure.
Another £1 billion would go to public health, with the aim of helping people spend five more years of their life in good health.
And there would be £3.7 billion for social care - a subject close to Sir Ed’s heart.
The Lib Dem leader has spoken of his experience caring for his disabled son and, as a child, looking after his terminally ill mother.
His party would introduce free personal care so that provision is based on need, not ability to pay, and a higher care workers’ minimum wage, set £2 above the minimum wage.
The manifesto will also set out plans to overhaul the water industry and tackle sewage pollution, a key theme of the Lib Dem campaign.
It would also include a policy of putting a dedicated mental health professional in every primary and secondary school.
It will promise a new burglary response guarantee to tackle unsolved crimes.
