A conservative led think tank and the anti-landlord charity Shelter have just published a book of essays on renting and housing.

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Bright Blue the self-titled “the independent think tank for liberal conservatism” has released a statement stating it has worked with Shelter in publishing a ‘book’ of 16 essays which offers “a fresh centre-right vision to resolve the housing crisis in the UK.”

The think tank says the book of essays “seeks to renew the conservative mission on housing, providing a blueprint for current and future decision makers. This book comprises four sections, each consisting of essays to resoundingly make the case for housing as a key tool in advancing four conservative goals: security, community, stewardship and conservation.”

And of course it goes without saying Housing Secretary Michael Gove has written the book’s forward which includes contributions from Conservative MPs Damian Green, John Penrose, Shaun Bailey, Selaine Saxby and Jo Gideon.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says: “The housing emergency is robbing hundreds of thousands of people of a safe and secure home, and undermining the future of local communities from Cornwall to Northumberland. Private rents are skyrocketing, over a million households are stuck on social housing waiting lists and homelessness has almost doubled in the last 10 years, but time and time again housing gets left off the political agenda.

“The government needs to start listening to the growing range of voices calling for bold action on housing, an issue that will be critical at the next General  Election. Access to a decent home is as vital as education or healthcare. The only way to make sure everyone has a home they can afford to live in, and one that allows them to thrive, is for the government to prioritise housing and build a new generation of good quality social homes with rents tied to local incomes.”

In the publication’s forward Gove writes: “Every single person in this country, no matter where they are from, what they do or how much money they earn, deserves to live in a home that is decent, safe, secure and affordable. Along with the campaigners and political colleagues who have contributed to this thoughtful collection of essays, I am more committed than ever to building a modern, radical and successful conservative housing policy that works for everyone, whether they rent or own.”

The chief exec of Bright Blue Ryan Shorthouse,  comments: “A Conservative government, now in power for 13 years, needs to make genuinely affordable and appropriate housing – of all different types of tenure – accessible to a much wider proportion of the population, especially younger generations and those on modest incomes.

“There is no silver bullet to fix the housing crisis. But, without bold and urgent steps, the housing situation in this country is only set to get worse, to the detriment of the national interest and the very survival of the centre-right. We need new, radical solutions now.”