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SNP accused of ‘reviving right to buy’

SNP MINISTERS were accused today of “reviving right to buy” in Scotland after it emerged that the first homes built under a flagship government scheme had been sold off.

News website The Ferret reported that early National Housing Trust-financed homes in Aberdeen had been swiftly put on the market.

Though the 131 homes were snapped up by Aberdeen City Council, Labour has raised concerns that there are no safeguards against homes built under the SNP scheme being transferred to the private sector.

“Not only has the SNP renamed PFI, it has revived right to buy,” Labour housing spokeswoman Pauline McNeil said.

“SNP ministers made a huge deal about abolishing right to buy and they got the support of the Scottish Labour Party in the process.

“But these revelations make clear that affordable housing stock in Scotland isn’t necessarily affordable for renters and some of what is there is set to be sold off.”

In August 2016, Holyrood abolished the Thatcher-era policy, which had allowed social housing tenants to purchase their homes at a discount.

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