What Boris’s right-to-buy gets wrong
Spectator (UK)Nov 25, 2022
The Facts
UK PM Boris Johnson has restated his intent to extend a home-buying scheme known as the "right to buy." He made the comments in Blackpool as he sought to relaunch his premiership after a confidence vote failed to remove him as leader of the Conservative party on Monday.
Johnson said he wanted to "unbolt the door" to home ownership and stated that 2.5M people who rent their homes from housing associations will be made eligible in the scheme that can see participants purchase homes for up to 70% off their market value.
The Spin
Left narrative
The policy is an attempt by Johnson to save his dying premiership and is simply rehashed history. No specifics beyond broad pledges of cost-saving policies have been released and the return to Thatcherite ideology is a cheap attempt to survive what has been, for a significant time, a doomed premiership.
Right narrative
Whilst key questions remain as to how such a policy will be practically implemented, this is a step in the right direction and the return to Thatcherite politics will help to appease traditional Tory voters at a time of political vulnerability for Boris Johnson.
