LONDON

Senior Labour MP Emily Thornberry on Tuesday called attention to the escalating housing crisis in the UK, describing it as the core issue affecting both urban and rural communities.

Speaking on LBC Radio, Thornberry highlighted the impact of soaring property prices, limited social housing, and workforce shortages in the construction sector.

"The price of housing has skyrocketed," she said, pointing to the challenges faced by her Islington constituency.

"Every time a rich person moves out, an even richer person moves in because the prices have gone up. For social housing, there’s so little available that people need to be increasingly desperate to earn enough points to get rehoused."

Thornberry stressed that the issue is nationwide, affecting not just cities but rural areas as well. “In the countryside, there’s no room left for people to live. It’s all second homes and investment properties.”

She expressed concern for essential workers like nurses, teachers, and council staff who can no longer afford to live in the communities they serve, adding: “What happens to the people in the middle? They’re priced out entirely.”

Workforce shortages and Brexit

Thornberry questioned the feasibility of the government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes, citing a significant shortage of construction workers.

“Who will build them? Where is the workforce?” she asked, noting that post-Brexit immigration restrictions have reduced the availability of workers from the EU.

She urged policymakers to work with the Construction Industry Council to devise a strategy to address labor shortages and ensure the industry can meet housing demands.

Voices from the community

Adding to the discussion, Marian, a former landlady, shared her perspective on the housing crisis. She described being forced to evict tenants due to government regulations on overcrowding.

“I’m just saying we need balance,” Marian said. “Tenants need rights, but landlords do too. We need enough rented accommodation, but it has to meet appropriate standards. If tenants complain, they shouldn’t just get chucked out.”

Her comments underscore the broader debate over tenant protections and landlord interests, as policymakers grapple with ensuring adequate, affordable housing.

As property prices continue to rise, social housing remains scarce, and essential workers are pushed to the margins of their communities, the housing crisis has become a central issue for political leaders and the public.