Boris Johnson woos back supporters with major housing reform

Boris Johnson will announce a raft of measures to let poorer people buy houses in a major speech to shore up his weakened authority.

Following the blow of two-fifths of his MPs voting against him in a confidence vote on Monday, the British prime minister is seeking to restore his popularity with plans to revive Britain’s economy

Mr Johnson will on Thursday attempt to appeal to voters by stating that the government can use its “fiscal firepower” to address soaring prices, caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the pandemic.

“We have the tools we need to get on top of rising prices,” he will say. “The global headwinds are strong but our engines are stronger.”

The government is determined to reverse declining home ownership rates, which has seen the proportion of 25 to 34-year-olds who own homes fall from 55 per cent to 34 per cent.

Unable to afford the high cost of buying a home, with the average house price now at £277,000, young people spend huge sums on private rentals rather than a lower amount on a mortgage.

Mr Johnson wants to “unlock the opportunity of home ownership” for more people through helping access to mortgage finance and providing incentives in saving for the deposit needed to purchase a home.

“In recognition that owning a home provides people with sanctuary and security in the most challenging of times, the prime minister will announce new measures that will support more people to get onto the property ladder,” Downing Street said in a statement.

Terraced houses in Blackburn, north west England. The average British house price is now £277,000 putting ownership beyond many families. AFP

It has been suggested that the government will allow people on social benefits to obtain and pay for mortgages with their welfare income as part of moves to get more home ownership.

“While it’s not going to be quick or easy, you can be confident that things will get better,” Mr Johnson will say in the speech made in Lancashire.

A series of pledges to allow the less well-off to weather the cost of living crisis will also be announced so Britain “can emerge from its current challenges with a strong and healthy economy”.

“We will continue to use our fiscal firepower to help the country through tough times – and concentrating our help where we should, on those who need it most,” he will say.

Mr Johnson will promise that in the coming weeks the government will set out reforms to help cut costs in household expenditure “from food to energy, to childcare, to transport and housing”.

The rising costs were blamed on the “inflationary impact” of the Ukraine war as well as dealing with the “Covid aftershocks”.

The speech did not include a mention of a cut to income tax, something that rebel Conservative MPs have demanded as a price for not continuing to seek Mr Johnson’s removal from office.

But the prime minister will hope that the speech will mark a new chapter finally putting aside the Partygate scandal of Downing Street lockdown parties, allowing him to win back credibility and lost popularity.

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

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Hamilton profile

Age 32

Country United Kingdom

Grands Prix entered 198

Pole positions 67

Wins 57

Podiums 110

Points 2,423

World Championships 3

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

hall of shame

SUNDERLAND 2002-03

No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.

SUNDERLAND 2005-06

Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.

HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19

Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.

FULHAM 2018-19

Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.

LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.

BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66