Everyone is entitled to a roof over their head. Families made homeless become a burden on the rest of society. Childrens’ health and education suffers from poor housing conditions. The quality of the home affects the quality of performance at work.

Priority 1: security of tenure – no one may be expelled from their home unless there is somewhere else to go.

Priority 2: no one may be expelled without a court order – defaults on mortgages and rents to be dealt with as bankruptcies but making security of tenure sacrosant

Priority 3: local authorities to be authorised to requisition empty properties

Priority 4: a national housing inspectorate (adequately staffed and funded) to enforce adequate housing conditions

Priority 5: a National Housing Service of similar status as the National Health Service to be set up charged with the provision of adequate housing needs in every part of the country.

We had a precedent during World War II – it was a national emergency. It showed what is possible. We need drastic action to deal with the present emergency.