Ed Balls: 4G windfall should be spent on new houses

By DAVID MADDOX
Published on 01/10/2012 00:00

SHADOW chancellor Ed Balls will today demand that a windfall of up to £4 billion from the sale of the 4G mobile network should be used to fund the construction of 100,000 affordable homes across the UK and a two-year stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers.

In his speech at the party conference in Brighton, Mr Balls will attack Chancellor George Osborne for failing to come up with a plan B to save the economy and argue that urgent action is needed to boost growth.

While capital programmes are devolved to the Scottish Government, sources close to Mr Balls pointed out that SNP ministers had been calling for money for “shovel-ready” projects and to boost the house building sector.

Meanwhile, shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy is to launch a drive to recruit more military veterans as parliamentary candidates, with new selection rules proposed in his speech to conference today.

Mr Murphy will announce changes that mean military service will equal work for a trade union or in a constituency when being considered for selection.