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Labour Party Conference, 2004 Report

The 2004 Labour Party conference voted 8:1 to back direct investment as an alternative to privatisation of council housing.

Labour conference backs 'level playing field' (2004)
Delegates vote 8:1 for 'level playing field' at Labour conference (photo Andrew Wiard andrew@reportphotos.com)
"The deputy prime minister's policy of forcing councils to switch their homes to new management has been thrown into disarray after a humiliating defeat at the Labour party conference" Guardian Unlimited.
Public financing of housing doesn't treat local authorities on a level playing field and I want to see that changed and I promised to do that and look at an enquiry into it
John Prescott, deputy prime minister, 26 Sept
Delegates at Labour's 2004 annual conference voted overwhelmingly on Sept 26 to support a 'level playing field' for council housing.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott told the conference he was 'near agreement' after private talks with union leaders and councillors. He said "It was a pity that agreement wasn't arrived at" before the debate took place. See Public Finance and Housing Today
View Labour Party Conference Webcast (Sunday 26 Sept Item 12)
Housing Minister, Keith Hill, speaking to delegates the next day said "We will look at the financial framework within which local authorities have to approach stock transfer and ALMOs... We recognise yesterday's vote and we will engage as a result of that... We are continuing negotiation, a discussion, with the various interested parties... We are continuing the review as we promised to do".

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2005 Labour Party Conference
2006 Labour Party Conference
2007 Labour Party Conference
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