There is no actual shortage of living accommodation in the UK. Statistics are hard to come by, but basicly, there is plenty of sq ft living space per UK inhabitant, as much as there has ever been. And let's face it, very few people have nowhere to sleep at all, unless by choice.Distribution of this living space though, both geographically and individually is an entirely different matter.Many of us home owners rattle around in our properties, owning far more space than we actually need, because (a) It is tax advantageous (no CGT on principal private residence (b) Not tax discouraged (low property taxes relative to value) and (c) because we can - particularly those of us with 2nd homes.Governments of all colours encourage the house investment merrygoround - thought to be attractive to the marginal voter, whilst the blue lot like to try to place the blame on immigrants bexause it would be quite embarassing (and certainly not a votewinner) to point to the true cause - living space "hoarding" by the aspirational middle classes.I'm going to carry on doing it until the penny finally drops. In the meantime I will continue to point out for anyone that wants to listen that blaming immigrants with the resultant stirring up of xenophobia is just a big lie. The same goes for the deficiencies in the health service, infrastructure and public services in general. The government is responsible. And if they want to tell us that immigrants are the cause - are we so stupid as not to understand that they have the ability to control immigration too - not the small number who arrive on dinghies, but the much larger number to whom they grant visas. So if that's bad - why have they been doing it?
Michael Winstanley ● 721d