Uncertainty over timing of Labour's housing review exercise

The timing of Labour’s housing review, which has until now been closely associated with John Healey, appears uncertain following the shadow housing spokesman’s resignation.

Although a replacement shadow housing minister is expected to be named by the embattled Labour leader, a spokesman for the party yesterday told Estate Agent Today that he had no idea about progress on the review, nor on its eventual fate.

Earlier this month, the party closed its consultation period on the review, having sought comments on its draft policies from the property industry as well as party supporters.

The review has been regarded as a non-partisan activity with highly-regarded independent experts such as Dame Kate Barker from Credit Suisse, Terrie Alafat the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, and Ian Mulheirn of Oxford Economics taking part. The process has been chaired by the chief executive of Taylor Wimpey, Peter Redfern.

This team was expected to conclude the review by the end of this summer and was going to report back to Healey, a former housing minister in a past Labour government.

Consultation submissions were scheduled to be discussed at a party National Policy Forum before being debated at the annual conference in the autumn; yesterday, a party spokesman told EAT that he could not confirm whether this would take place.