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Healey defiant as home repossession comments spark anger






Posted by Brian on 14th February 2010 at 01:52 PM
Healey defiant as home repossession comments spark anger
A Government minister dismissed calls for an apology after he said the "best thing" for some people was to have their homes repossessed.

Housing Minister John Healey sparked anger when he suggested losing their homes was the only way for some people to escape the spiral of debt.

His comments, during a BBC Radio 5 Live phone-in, prompted opposition demands for a public apology.

Mr Healey last night took to the airwaves for a second time to insist that he was standing by his original remarks.

His defiant comments came as figures showed the number of people who lost their home soared to a 14-year high in 2009.

"Of course we try to avoid repossession in all possible cases but in some cases it is the only option and in some cases it is the best option to cut people's losses so that they don't get deeper into debt," he told the BBC Radio 4 PM programme.

"I am trying to tell it like it is to people. It is impossible for the Government to help everyone, it is impossible for everyone to avoid the risk of repossession. It may be, in the end, for some, the only option."

Around 46,000 people had their property repossessed during last year, the highest level since 1995 and 15% more than in 2008, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

It predicted that as many as 53,000 homes will be repossessed this year, with a further 205,000 people ending 2010 in mortgage arrears.

Mr Healey said that his comments simply reflected the advice being offered by Shelter and the Citizens Advice Bureau, and he attacked the Tories for opposing Government measures to help people remain in their homes through the recession.

Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said Mr Healey's remarks showed how out of touch ministers had become and he called on him to apologise.

"The Government has lost completely the idea of what is going on out there," he told the PM programme.

"It is crazy and I really think that an apology is called for. It just beggars belief. It cannot be the best thing, the best option, ever. Not now, not ever."

Liberal Democrat housing spokeswoman Sarah Teather said Mr Healey's comments were "grossly insensitive" to people who had lost their homes.

"If this is John Healey's best response to record repossession figures then he should just shut up," she said.

"Labour has no idea what life is like for victims of the recession. John Healey needs to get out more before he starts dismissing the misery of homelessness."


Source: 24dash.com

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