Welsh Conservatives today accused the Labour Party of cynically playing politics with vulnerable people over the future of proposed housing legislation.
Responding to calls from Peter Hain for “consensus” on the Assembly Government’s legislative competence order, Shadow Minister for Wales David Jones MP said:
“We all want consensus on this issue. But had Peter Hain really wanted to he could have used Labour’s majority to push this legislation through Parliament, just as he has done with other LCOs over the last couple of weeks.
“Only last week the School Transport LCO went through Parliament and the previous week no fewer than three were approved.
“His actions are nothing less than cynical political grandstanding during a General Election campaign.
“We have made our position crystal clear on numerous occasions. If the Assembly Government drops its proposals to seek powers over the Right to Buy and to impose traveller sites on communities against local wishes then we will support this legislation.
“Peter Hain clearly does not want this LCO to go through. He wants to use it as a political lever – taking advantage of vulnerable people, for which he should be thoroughly ashamed.”
Shadow Housing Minister Mark Isherwood AM said:
“Much of this order is based on Welsh Conservative policy. I have been working with the sector for years on these issues.
“It is regrettable the Assembly Government chose to play politics by leaving the meaningless clause on the Right to Buy in the legislation. It will do nothing to tackle the affordable housing crisis in Wales.
“The onus is also on the Labour-Plaid government in Cardiff to reassure Westminster that this LCO will not be used to tell local authorities where to locate traveller sites.”
