Right-to-buy homes policy switch hailed

A MAJOR housing body has welcomed a U-turn by East Lothian Council over plans to reintroduce the right-to-buy scheme for council houses.

The Labour/Conservative coalition last week unanimously agreed to adopt both parties’ manifestos as council policy, despite protests from the SNP that neither party had outlined the cost of its pledges.

Andy Young, policy manager at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: “We are pleased to see that East Lothian Council has been brave enough to revisit its earlier decision on right-to-buy.

“Their revised stance on this issue is in keeping with the thoughts of a growing number of local authorities and practically all housing associations and co-operatives.

“We hope that the Scottish Government will show similar courage and abolish the right-to-buy in Scotland once and for all.”