Housing waiting lists 'to set new record'

[T_i_B]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7951556.stm

Housing waiting lists in England will reach record levels by 2011, according to a body of housing associations.

An extra 200,000 families over the next two years will push the total to a new high of around two million, the National Housing Federation said.

It predicts that 80,000 will lack a home as a result of repossessions and unemployment, and the rest because of the shortage of social rented housing.

Meanwhile, house building will fall by 50% next year to 70,000, it added.

[Albus]

1. All Thatchers fault

[T_i_B]

2. Not entirely

Thatcher was kicked own by her own party 19 years ago. That's quite a bit of time for successive governments to sort out council housing.

Not to mention a number of other issues that force people onto the waiting list in the first place.

[Nihil]

3. I don't think even she can be blamed for these:

Increasing population (birth rate excess over death rate);
Increasing immigration numbers;
Increasing divorce/separation rate;

Lots of other things, yes. These three major causes, no.
(And, as you pointed out, this was 19 years ago so even then,
more blame rests on her successors.)
:shrug:

[T_i_B]

4. Also there's the current growth in unemployment.

That's a big factor at present.