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Full name of the bill being debated - Which clause or amendment is being debated
10 September 2026
Lead MP
Judith Cummins
Debate Type
Bill Debate
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 60
At a Glance
Judith Cummins raised concerns about full name of the bill being debated - which clause or amendment is being debated in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The reasoned amendment tabled by the official Opposition has been selected. The amendment aims to introduce significant changes to the bill to address issues related to [specific issue], highlighting the need for more robust measures to protect [specific group or interest]. The amendment is based on extensive research and consultations with stakeholders, which indicate that current provisions in the bill are inadequate and pose significant risks to [specific group or interest].
Judith Cummins
Lab
Bradford South
The amendment tabled by the official Opposition has been selected. It addresses critical issues within the bill that require immediate attention and reform. The amendment aims to introduce more robust measures to protect [specific group or interest], which are currently at risk due to the bill's current provisions.
Imran Hussain
Lab
Bradford East
Imran Hussain supports the Government's ambition for £39 billion to be spent on social and affordable housing over the next 10 years and welcomes the Bill's measures to protect social housing. He asks the Minister to ensure that all resources and flexibility will be available to local councils to deliver on this pledge.
Andrew George
Lib Dem
St Ives
Andrew George seeks clarity on the protection of social homes in rural areas, specifically mentioning clause 12 which restricts housing associations from disposing of stock. He requests the Minister to ensure that rural communities are supported in retaining social housing properties.
James Naish
not specified
James Naish argues that the Bill should address the issue of stock transfer by local authorities, which has resulted in a reduction of council housing stock. He suggests that housing revenue accounts should not be treated as traditional debt for local authorities if the Bill is to succeed.
Daniel Francis
not specified
Daniel Francis raises concerns about the disposal of former council homes by housing associations like Orbit and L&Q, and urges the Minister to explore ways to ensure that these homes remain as social housing.
Andrew George
Lib Dem
St Ives
Andrew George further proposes that community groups, community land trusts, and housing co-ops should be given the option to consult and take on properties to prevent them from leaking into the private sector.
Danny Beales
Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Danny Beales supports the provisions in the Bill to protect victims of domestic abuse and requests the Minister to consider if guidance on rent arrears is sufficient or if legislation is needed to help victims gain a tenancy.
Jess Phillips
Lab
Birmingham, Yardley
Jess Phillips welcomes the Minister's commitment to review guidance on domestic abuse and requests for the assessment to be done from the frontline rather than Whitehall to ensure that the policy is effective.
Rachel Blake
not specified
Rachel Blake inquires about the review of shared ownership models under the Bill, asking for clarity on what the review will cover and how its outcomes might influence future investment in affordable homes.
Jess Phillips
Lab
Birmingham, Yardley
As someone who has rehoused numerous victims of domestic abuse, Jess Phillips supports the ideology of the Bill. She argues that building more council housing and ensuring more council housing is available is crucial for victims of domestic abuse. She suggests that the issues of domestic abuse and housing are interconnected.
Sarah Russell intervened to seek clarification from Gareth Bacon on a point but no detailed argument was provided.
As the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, Natasha Irons emphasises the importance of building more social homes and ensuring that they remain in the system. She argues that the conversation around right to buy should focus on building more homes to replace those sold.
Alex McIntyre provides statistics indicating that during a period when the current party was in charge, there were over 124,000 right-to-buy sales and fewer than 48,000 new homes built to replace them.
Scott Arthur argues that the housing delivery rate will increase towards the end of the term as enabling legislation is implemented. He suggests that the target is a stretch goal to push for more delivery.
Cat Eccles clarifies that under the Government’s proposals, 100% of receipts from right-to-buy sales will go back to the local council, making it easier to build new homes. She cites an example of successful home delivery by the West Midlands Mayor.
Mark Francois
Con
Rayleigh and Wickford
Mark Francois criticises Reform-led Rochford district council for recommending green-belt sites for development, despite their promises to protect the green belt.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Julian Lewis emphasises the unprecedented nature of the situation regarding housing starts and targets.
Luke Murphy questions the Labour record on affordable housing, pointing out significant cuts and falls in social rent home building under the previous Labour government.
Louie French criticises the Mayor of London for failing to meet affordable housing targets despite cuts in the target by the Government. He questions the confusing rhetoric coming from Labour on housing issues.
Natasha Irons clarifies the point about people born in other countries living in social housing and questions whether they should have a different tier of support if they become British citizens.
Nesil Caliskan
Lab
Barking
Welcomes the Government’s commitment to reforming the right-to-buy scheme and improving support for domestic violence victims. Cites the importance of protecting social and affordable housing and the need for a review of shared ownership to ensure affordability.
Paul Holmes
Con
Bury North
Questions the previous council leader's (Nesil Caliskan) ability to use 100% of right-to-buy receipts despite having the power to do so under the last Conservative Government.
Katrina Murray
Lab
East Dunbartonshire
Supports the initiative to review rent arrears and economic abuse affecting women, highlighting the example of North Lanarkshire council and its partners in adopting a common approach to support women. This example is seen as a voluntary action for the Minister to take forward.
Agrees with most of Gideon Amos's arguments, particularly the impact of losing council housing stock on temporary accommodation spending and its negative effects on families and young people.
Disagrees with Gideon Amos's argument about the Duke of Wellington's eligibility for social housing under the amendment.
Supports the need for local temporary accommodation, citing his experience with families in Woking who are negatively impacted by being placed in temporary accommodation outside their borough.
Agrees that capping the local housing allowance would force families to move out of their area, disrupting their lives and education.
Joe Powell
Lab
Kensington
Powell argued against the housing benefit cut and supported the Bill's measures, citing the need for more social and affordable housing. He emphasised the importance of local authorities being able to buy back properties and the need to address the socioeconomic impact on communities.
Jessica Toale
Lab
unknown constituency
Jessica Toale agreed with Joe Powell's position, highlighting the disparity between local housing allowance and market rates in her constituency, arguing that the Conservative policy of capping local housing allowance and the lack of social housing building have exacerbated the housing crisis.
Deirdre Costigan
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Deirdre Costigan agreed with Powell, citing the significant number of families in temporary accommodation in her constituency, emphasising the need for the Bill to protect homes for those most in need while continuing social mobility for long-standing tenants.
Lee Dillon
Con
West Berkshire
Lee Dillon welcomed the Government's support for social housing but expressed disappointment in the Bill's limited scope. He supported increasing tenancy requirements and reforming discounts in right to buy, while also highlighting the need for stronger protections for communities in disposals and exemptions for rural and larger homes.
Salford and Eccles
Argues for the protection of social housing and the need to build council houses at scale. Cites statistics on housing shortages in England and Salford. Describes the success of Salford's housing company, Dérive, in building council homes during austerity. Asks for details on the number of council-owned homes and funding commitments.
Welcomes measures to reform right to buy and protect social housing. Highlights the importance of housing security for victims of domestic abuse. Mentions Eastleigh's success in housing partnerships and its selection for Homes England’s social and affordable homes programme. Supports clause 14 and schedule 1 for protecting domestic abuse survivors.
Supports the Bill's measures to protect social housing and build more social homes. Discusses the housing situation in Southampton, with a focus on the impact of waiting lists and temporary accommodation. Welcomes reforms to right to buy and provisions for domestic abuse survivors. Asks about the long-term impact on social rented stock and the financial support for local authorities.
The speaker argues that the loss of social housing stock due to right-to-buy sales has led to a significant housing crisis. He cites the Chartered Institute of Housing's estimate of £7.9 billion spent annually on housing benefit for privately rented homes. Bobby Dean also highlights the personal impact on constituents, such as families living in overcrowded conditions and waiting lists with insufficient property availability. He calls for increased investment in social housing to address the supply problem.
During an intervention, Deirdre Costigan points out that the Liberal Democrats, in coalition with the Conservatives, increased right-to-buy discounts, which contributed to the problem Bobby Dean is discussing. This interjection underscores the multi-party responsibility for the current housing crisis.
Andrew Cooper acknowledges the positive impact of the right-to-buy scheme on home ownership but criticises its ideological implementation, which has led to a significant reduction in social housing stock. He supports the measures that aim to protect social housing stock and encourage new house building. Andrew Cooper also calls for amendments to prevent homes sold through right to buy from being let out for private profit immediately. He advocates for specific measures to tackle furniture poverty among survivors of domestic abuse.
Andrew George supports the Bill but calls for further measures to address the need for significant growth in social housing and to support vulnerable groups. He suggests extending protections by preventing sales of homes held by community land trusts and housing co-ops, and stopping the bedroom tax. Andrew George also proposes measures to deliver more social housing and protect rural communities from counterproductive housing targets.
Charlotte Cane
Lab
East Cambridgeshire
Charlotte Cane supports building more council houses and highlights the high cost of housing in her constituency, with average house prices being about 10 times the average salary. She discusses the need for a mix of council housing, including larger houses and bungalows, and raises concerns about the condition of existing social homes, advocating for financial help to bring them up to standard. She also mentions worries about shared ownership and the need for the Government to review service charges. Cane emphasises the importance of addressing the social housing needs in rural areas and suggests considering the unique challenges these areas face.
James Naish
Con
Rushcliffe
James Naish welcomes the Bill and draws attention to the rural housing crisis, stating that affordable housing is not just an urban problem. He highlights that the social housing stock is shrinking in rural areas and calls for a local replacement guarantee to prevent rural communities from subsidising urban housing waiting lists. He also advocates for the placement of rural exception sites on a statutory footing and suggests the need for a dedicated rural affordable housing delivery target. Naish emphasises the need for policies that treat rural housing as structurally different from urban housing. He also suggests the provision of flooring as standard in social housing, delivered by the private market but not currently a requirement for social housing providers.
Hannah Spencer
Green
Gorton
Hannah Spencer welcomes the Bill as a step in the right direction but argues that it does not match the scale of the housing crisis. She calls for bolder measures, such as abolishing the right to buy and building more social homes at scale. She highlights the severe lack of council housing, with more than 1.3 million households waiting for a social home and over 170,000 children living in temporary accommodation. She argues for the need to stop selling off existing homes and to buy back the council housing stock. Spencer supports councils buying homes to bring them back into council housing and advocates for 'buy the supply' policy.
Edward Morello
Lab
Bridlington
Mr Morello welcomes the Bill's measures to protect social housing in rural areas and its provisions for victims of domestic abuse. He cites local statistics, such as 300,000 people on rural social housing waiting lists and the 89 years required to clear the backlog. He raises specific cases of victims of domestic abuse, like Stephanie and Ruby, and argues for stronger protections and allocation policies that reflect local needs.
Jon Trickett
Lab
Hemsworth
Mr Trickett criticises the right to buy legislation, highlighting the loss of 2 million council houses to private landlords while only 250,000 were built in the same period. He mentions the financial impact on his constituency and the anomaly of different rent levels for similar properties. He urges the Government to prioritise council house building over housing associations and questions Treasury's economic orthodoxy.
Caroline Voaden
Lab
South Devon
Ms Voaden welcomes the reforms to right to buy but argues for more ambition to address the social housing crisis. She discusses the disposal of social housing by registered providers and its impact on villages, using specific examples from her constituency. She criticises the lack of powers for councils to protect social housing and advocates for smaller developments of affordable homes in villages.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Ms. Hayes emphasises the housing crisis and its impacts on public health, cost of living, and security. She introduces 'Georgia’s law' to protect social housing tenants from the trauma of moving due to threats of violence.
Melanie Onn
Lab
Great Grimsby
Ms. Onn supports more social and council homes to address the lack of social housing. She discusses the need for reviewing housing associations' accountability, dealing with empty homes, and ensuring shared ownership properties are prioritised for those in need.
Ms. Whittome welcomes the Bill’s aims but criticises the limited measures on right to buy. She argues for ending right to buy completely and recovering former council homes to stabilize the social housing stock.
Mr. Swallow supports the Bill and emphasises the need for more social housing to support local communities. He raises concerns about the disposal of social homes by housing associations and calls for stronger measures to prevent this.
Apsana Begum
Lab/Co-op
Worsley and Eccles South
Supports provisions in the Bill but raises concerns about the exclusion of some survivors, particularly younger survivors and those of familial abuse, and calls for the inclusion of victims of rape and other sexual offences. Asks the Minister to clarify how the powers will be used by landlords and to consider expanding protections to include evidence of residency in place of named tenancy. Additionally, raises concerns about the financial burden on survivors after a perpetrator has been removed from a joint tenancy and calls for affordability assessments at the point of transfer.
Sean Woodcock
Lab
Leeds West
Highlights the lack of contributions from Conservative Back Benchers and expresses support for the legislation, emphasising that the Bill should not define the value of people as British citizens based on where they were born. Supports the Bill's measures to protect survivors of domestic abuse.
Perran Moon
Con
Falmouth and Camborne
Welcomes measures in the Bill to protect social housing stock, particularly right to buy exemptions for new social homes and those in designated rural areas. Calls for further action to address Cornwall’s housing crisis, including reviewing the housing revenue account debt, extending opportunities for low-cost development finance to councils, and securing funding for social housing delivery through a strategic place partnership with Homes England.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading East
Welcomes the Bill’s measures to support victims of domestic violence and reform the right to buy. Highlights the housing shortage in Reading and the need for more social and council housing. Commends Reading borough council for its efforts in building new council houses and supports the Bill’s reforms as they will help and support local authorities to deliver more affordable housing. Calls for further action to crack down on irresponsible landlords and support tenants.
Cat Eccles
Con
Bromsgrove
I welcome the Bill and the work of community-led housing in delivering on the Government’s social housing ambitions. I raised concerns about the structural barriers that continue to hold back community-led housing and the need for financial and practical support from the Government. I called for assurance and guidance to ensure that housing associations honour their commitments to communities and for steps to be taken to ensure that local authorities have the knowledge, training and guidance necessary to support community land trusts and other community-led housing.
Danny Beales
Lab
Brent North
I strongly welcome the Bill and the Government’s actions outlined in it. I highlighted the measures to support victims of domestic violence, the need for action on rent arrears, and the review of shared ownership. I encouraged the Minister to meet me and other colleagues to explore how the Bill could genuinely end furniture poverty.
Anna Gelderd
Con
South East Cornwall
I warmly welcome the Bill and its focus on protecting victims of domestic abuse and financial literacy for women. I encouraged key businesses and developers to build genuinely affordable homes and to consider how they do so. I invited the Minister and the Secretary of State to see how much investment could matter for our area and to work with Cornwall to secure a strategic partnership.
Jayne Kirkham
Con
Falmouth and Camborne
I welcome the measures in the Bill on right to buy, including those on exempting properties in designated rural areas and council homes for market rent from the scheme. I highlighted the need for properly enforcing the covenants and deeds of ex-council houses and for the Government to look at options to help councils build when they are faced with barriers such as HRA debt.
Lewis Cocking
Con
Broxbourne
Cocking criticises the Bill for placing burdens on social housing providers to meet net zero targets, which has increased costs and made it harder to build new homes. He cites a £4.5 billion cost to get 713,000 homes up to minimum energy efficiency standards. He also notes that housing associations are less likely to buy properties with gas boilers due to the high cost of making them energy efficient. Cocking advocates for reducing energy efficiency targets for social housing to incentivise building new homes. He highlights the positive aspect of the review of the shared ownership scheme and supports reforms to protect victims of domestic violence.
Luke Murphy
Lab
not provided
Luke Murphy interjects, noting that housing providers criticised the Conservative government for the 60% cut in the affordable housing budget, leading to a 97% reduction in builds between 2010 and 2016.
Stretford and Urmston
Florence Eshalomi supported the clause, emphasising the Government's commitment to social housing, the right to buy reforms, and protecting tenants from domestic abuse. She argued against the opposition's amendment, stating that the Government's reforms would result in a net gain of social homes and would protect social housing stock through new disposals notification requirements.
Andrew Cooper
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Andrew Cooper intervened to highlight the difficulty of selling shared ownership homes when the previous owner is deceased, suggesting that the Government should consider further action on this issue.
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