Skip to main content

Error message

  • Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in node_article() (line 12 of themes/custom/morningstar/preprocess/nodes/article.php).
    node_article() (Line: 106)
    morningstar_preprocess_node()
    call_user_func_array() (Line: 261)
    Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render() (Line: 446)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender() (Line: 203)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render() (Line: 238)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\{closure}() (Line: 593)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->executeInRenderContext() (Line: 231)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->prepare() (Line: 128)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->renderResponse() (Line: 90)
    Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\MainContentViewSubscriber->onViewRenderArray() (Line: 246)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher::Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\{closure}() (Line: 206)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher->callListeners() (Line: 56)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher->dispatch() (Line: 188)
    Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleRaw() (Line: 76)
    Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle() (Line: 53)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle() (Line: 48)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle() (Line: 28)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ContentLength->handle() (Line: 201)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->fetch() (Line: 138)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->lookup() (Line: 87)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle() (Line: 48)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle() (Line: 51)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle() (Line: 36)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\AjaxPageState->handle() (Line: 51)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\StackedHttpKernel->handle() (Line: 709)
    Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle() (Line: 19)
    
  • Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in node_article() (line 13 of themes/custom/morningstar/preprocess/nodes/article.php).
    node_article() (Line: 106)
    morningstar_preprocess_node()
    call_user_func_array() (Line: 261)
    Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render() (Line: 446)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender() (Line: 203)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render() (Line: 238)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\{closure}() (Line: 593)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->executeInRenderContext() (Line: 231)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->prepare() (Line: 128)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->renderResponse() (Line: 90)
    Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\MainContentViewSubscriber->onViewRenderArray() (Line: 246)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher::Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\{closure}() (Line: 206)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher->callListeners() (Line: 56)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher->dispatch() (Line: 188)
    Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleRaw() (Line: 76)
    Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle() (Line: 53)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle() (Line: 48)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle() (Line: 28)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ContentLength->handle() (Line: 201)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->fetch() (Line: 138)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->lookup() (Line: 87)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle() (Line: 48)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle() (Line: 51)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle() (Line: 36)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\AjaxPageState->handle() (Line: 51)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\StackedHttpKernel->handle() (Line: 709)
    Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle() (Line: 19)
    
  • Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in node_article() (line 14 of themes/custom/morningstar/preprocess/nodes/article.php).
    node_article() (Line: 106)
    morningstar_preprocess_node()
    call_user_func_array() (Line: 261)
    Drupal\Core\Theme\ThemeManager->render() (Line: 446)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->doRender() (Line: 203)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->render() (Line: 238)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\{closure}() (Line: 593)
    Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->executeInRenderContext() (Line: 231)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->prepare() (Line: 128)
    Drupal\Core\Render\MainContent\HtmlRenderer->renderResponse() (Line: 90)
    Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\MainContentViewSubscriber->onViewRenderArray() (Line: 246)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher::Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\{closure}() (Line: 206)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher->callListeners() (Line: 56)
    Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\EventDispatcher->dispatch() (Line: 188)
    Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleRaw() (Line: 76)
    Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle() (Line: 53)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle() (Line: 48)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle() (Line: 28)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ContentLength->handle() (Line: 201)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->fetch() (Line: 138)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->lookup() (Line: 87)
    Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle() (Line: 48)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle() (Line: 51)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle() (Line: 36)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\AjaxPageState->handle() (Line: 51)
    Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\StackedHttpKernel->handle() (Line: 709)
    Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle() (Line: 19)
    
Beware of this stealth attack on public-sector housing
Under the radar, the government is sneaking in the possibility of a new programme of 'stock transfers' of council housing to housing associations. That should be resisted at all costs, says MARTIN WICKS

THE TORIES’ social housing green paper marks a partial retreat from some of their previous policies. They have abandoned the proposal to force councils to sell off so-called higher-value homes, which would have involved confiscating the sales receipts and handing them over to housing associations to compensate them for the difference between the “real-time bidding” price and the market value.

It has also abandoned the compulsory introduction of fixed-term tenancies, though councils can still use them if they wish.

A “damp squib” this may be, as the Financial Times has described it. There is no new money for council house building but there is one proposal which, if implemented, would constitute a major threat to council housing.

Liberation webinar, 30 November2024, 6pm (UK)
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
a general view from Blackpool Tower of terraced houses in Bl
Features / 27 February 2025
27 February 2025
Above-inflation rent increases will push council tenants deeper into poverty while failing to address the housing crisis — and it won’t really raise any money, as council rent arrears are doubling across the country, argues MARTIN WICKS
estate
Features / 6 December 2024
6 December 2024
Labour’s about to shift cost of new housing onto tenants, writes MARTIN WICKS arguing instead for cancelling the councils' HRA debt
HOUSING CRISIS: Campaigners protesting the destruction of co
Features / 9 November 2024
9 November 2024
MARTIN WICKS argues that the government’s reduced discounts for council house purchases don’t go far enough, and we need to be calling for the complete abolition of this regressive Thatcherite policy
CRISIS POINT: An estate agent sign outside a block of counci
Features / 30 August 2023
30 August 2023
It’s high time for England to follow Scotland and Wales in ending the privatisation of collectively owned housing. MARTIN WICKS explains why