Corbyn: '˜We must build more council houses'

The Labour leader was in the city yesterday to launch MK Labour’s election manifesto.

If they take full control of Milton Keynes Council in May, council leader Pete Marland has pledged to continue the “biggest Council House building programme in a generation”.

He has also promised to bring forward more new and innovative alternatives to costly B&Bs and funding a new single support service to prevent homelessness.

Speaking to the Citizen yesterday, Mr Corbyn said: “I support what the council is trying to do with homelessness, but at the end of the day the problem in Britain is we are not building enough houses and the ones we are building are not necessarily the ones we need.

“What we need is secure, tenanted housing.

“Milton Keynes was built by the development corporation - a very impressive development handed over to local authorities.

“Homelessness in Milton Keynes must be solved by more council housing.

“If we don’t build more council housing then we can set up more shelters, but that isn’t the solution.”

Mr Corbyn said this council was “on his radar” ahead of May’s election as Labour, which is currently the biggest party by one, defends 10 seats in marginal wards.

He said: “We are working hard to win this council, to show that Labour is strong here and that we have a real vision for what people do really need particularly in housing, public transport, health and education issues.

“We are on the way, I’m really pleased.”