ALTER: enemy of national housing targets?

Is ALTER on the side of Generation Rent - the under-40s finding it harder every year to get a foot on the housing ladder? Of course we are.

Then why are we often seen as opposing the Party's move (approved last year at Autumn Conference) to go further than other UK parties with our commitment to a target of total now homes per year?

I explained to readers of Lib Dem Voice here.

The background to this is that last year's Conference Motion was not the result of a formal Policy Working Group set up by the Federal Policy Committee (FPC). It included a target of 380,000 new homes per year (300,000 for England). Much of the Party hierarchy opposed this specific part of the Motion but an amendment to change it was defeated by Conference vote. It was a clear majority of those voting but a much smaller total number of votes at this all-virtual conference than would normally be the case for such a vital area of policy at a 'normal' (in-person) autumn Conference.

In response, FPC established a working group to review the whole policy area, widening the remit to cover Planning - but not Taxes. I was appointed to the "Homes & Planning Working Group" (HPWG) as it was called. Our remit is here

The policy paper was approved by FPC in time to go on this autumn's Conference agenda but then had to obtain approval of the Federal Conference Committee (FCC). There was strong resistance from some of those who supported a national target last year and it failed to get FCC approval.

As a result, moves are afoot for ALTER, backed by many of the HPWG, to get FPC to revise the its remit to include Property Taxes and ask us to bring an updated policy paper back for approval by FCC at next Spring's Conference. This could be urged through Questions to both FCC and FPC at Conference when they present their Reports.

We will also try to make interventions in other debates in the main Conference auditorium (e.g. when the pre-Manifesto is debated) to explain the importance of reforming council tax and 'tax shifting' (off enterprise and earnings onto beneficiaries of unearned rental income) in our overall appeal to younger and poorer voters in particular and for the sake of the wider economy and society.

If anyone would like to work with us on this campaign, please contact me by email to tony@libdemsalter.org.uk