McKee backs party vow on council homes

LOTHIANS SNP MSP Ian McKee has welcomed his party's pledge to build 5000 new council houses over the next four years if re-elected in May.

He said it was a response to the housing needs of Edinburgh, where there is a desperate shortage of affordable housing, with 15,800 new affordable homes expected to be needed over the next ten years.

He said: "It's easy for governments to ignore social housing needs in difficult economic circumstances and I'm delighted that the SNP has taken a different approach.

"While the London Tories are cutting left, right and centre, Scotland has a Scottish Government willing to invest in local communities, boosting the local economy."

Shelter Scotland has also welcomed the pledge. The SNP also plans to increase council tax on 25,000 long-term empty properties to encourage owners to bring them back into use.