19 August 2008
Recently released figures from the Ministry of Justice for the 2nd quarter of 2008 show a 37 per cent increase from this time last year on the number of mortgage possession claims issued in Reading. For the first half of 2008 the increase was 26% compared to the same period last year.
Alok Sharma, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West commented: “The rate of repossessions is clearly increasing in Reading and faced with stagnant earnings, the rocketing cost of living and soaring mortgage bills, these new figures show how the weight of debt is taking its toll on many hard-working people in the Reading area and they can no longer cope with the consequences of this Government’s economic mismanagement.”
Alok continued: “We have delivered a questionnaire to thousands of homes in Reading asking local residents to comment on how the rising cost of living is hitting them and we want to use this feedback to demonstrate to the Government that they need to take urgent action now to help those who are most badly hit, especially pensioners and hard-pressed families. For example the Government’s plans for a retrospective increase in road tax needs to be suspended immediately. Unfortunately all we have had from Labour over the summer is yet more dithering, confusion and delay from a Government in disarray.
First, Labour briefed that they would give a £150 fuel benefit to all families. Now we hear they will give £50 or £100 to some families. Labour also briefed they would look at suspending stamp duty to restart the housing market but weeks later there is no clarity around this subject. All the Government has managed to do is undermine the housing market at a historically low point by floating the measure without saying what it is actually going to do, creating a significant incentive for people to delay house purchases.
In a time of deep economic uncertainty, the country needs strong leadership. But all we get from Labour are briefings and spin. Gordon Brown has no big vision for Britain and no answers to the long-term challenges we face. It is time to call a General Election and let the British people have their say.”
Alok Sharma, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West commented: “The rate of repossessions is clearly increasing in Reading and faced with stagnant earnings, the rocketing cost of living and soaring mortgage bills, these new figures show how the weight of debt is taking its toll on many hard-working people in the Reading area and they can no longer cope with the consequences of this Government’s economic mismanagement.”
Alok continued: “We have delivered a questionnaire to thousands of homes in Reading asking local residents to comment on how the rising cost of living is hitting them and we want to use this feedback to demonstrate to the Government that they need to take urgent action now to help those who are most badly hit, especially pensioners and hard-pressed families. For example the Government’s plans for a retrospective increase in road tax needs to be suspended immediately. Unfortunately all we have had from Labour over the summer is yet more dithering, confusion and delay from a Government in disarray.
First, Labour briefed that they would give a £150 fuel benefit to all families. Now we hear they will give £50 or £100 to some families. Labour also briefed they would look at suspending stamp duty to restart the housing market but weeks later there is no clarity around this subject. All the Government has managed to do is undermine the housing market at a historically low point by floating the measure without saying what it is actually going to do, creating a significant incentive for people to delay house purchases.
In a time of deep economic uncertainty, the country needs strong leadership. But all we get from Labour are briefings and spin. Gordon Brown has no big vision for Britain and no answers to the long-term challenges we face. It is time to call a General Election and let the British people have their say.”
