Labour in first time buyers pledge
Labour's Shadow Housing Minister has revealed the party will aim to boost conditions for first time buyers when it unveils new plans to fix the UK's housing crisis next week.
John Healey says the party will also tackle issues including social housing and rent-to-buy schemes in the document, which is due to be issued on Monday.
He visited Dudley as a guest of Dudley North parliamentary candidate Ian Austin to see the new Friars Gate estate, which was one of the final major housing projects in the country to be funded by the last Labour government.
Mr Healey said: "We will put in place a long term plan to fix the housing crisis.
"It starts will building more affordable homes, which has seen a huge drop off under the Conservative government.
"We have to stop the freefall in housing standards. We want houses that are free from damp, vermin and faulty wiring. A Labour government will prioritise making conditions better for first time buyers."
Mr Austin said that if elected next month, he would fight for investment to help first time buyers get a foot on the housing ladder.
During his visit to the West Midlands Mr Healey also hit the campaign trail in Birmingham with Labour's candidate for Erdington Jack Dromey.
