My comment on a Your Thurrock news item

There was a news item about South Basildon & East Thurrock MP, Stephen Metcalfe, and his support for the Right To Buy policy.  This policy gives people in council-run social housing to buy their property at a very reduced price.  Now, while I'm all in favour of people being able to become homeowners, I do see the problems with the policy as can be read by my posted comment on the news item (http://www.yourthurrock.com/2013/09/09/metcalfe-backs-right-to-buy-scheme/).

OK, Mr Metcalfe, let’s have a quick assessment of the situation regarding RTB.

Some people may want to buy their council house/flat but are on such low incomescan’t even afford a drastically reduced mortgage due to low-paid employment or zero-hour contract.

Some people live in such low quality buildings that buying it would constitute a mistake of biblical proportions.

Those affected by the despicable Bedroom Tax already have few options for downsizing and RTB robs them of even more as, judging by the text in the news item above, only additionally purchased properties (ones that I assume have been hoovered up by wealthy property developers) will be replaced with new build affordable homes. It also doesn’t state whether those affordable homes will be council-owned, housing association-owned or private sector owned.

The homes bought under RTB will then enter the property market at full market value driving up house prices locally, harming the chances of first-time buyers of getting a first step on the property ladder.

With no hope of being able to get onto the property ladder, hopeful first-time buyers will be forced into private sector renting because of the lack of social housing properties. Some of those people may be in low-paid employment or on zero-hour contracts which means they will start to claim Housing Benefit, driving up the welfare bill.

Those lucky enough to get a social housing property may have to accept any size they are offered, meaning at least some will be hit by the Bedroom Tax which will, if past experience is anything to go by, force some into personal indebtedness, poverty and even drive some to suicide. Those who don’t commit suicide will become even more dependent on State assistance driving the welfare bill even higher.

I could go on but that would be construed as me trying to bully you. Perish the thought.

Oh well, I suppose you know what you’re doing, don’t you? I mean only an idiot would want to increase the amount of personal indebtedness, poverty and suicides amongst the population they are supposed to serve and protect. Unless, of course, they had something to gain personally from such a situation. A financial interest in a property developer or payday loan company, perhaps?

My question to you, dear reader, is - should I e-mail him this comment?