Will Gordon Brown's housing gift keep him in power?
Updated on 02 September 2008
The government is offering £1bn of measures to keep the housing market moving. But will it be enough to keep Gordon at No.10?
Gordon Brown today launched his campaign to stay on at Downing Street after the next election.
He announced a series of policies aimed at soothing some of the pain that Britain's faltering economy is inflicting on home buyers and home owners.
The measures, which will cost £1bn to implement, include raising the stamp duty threshold by £50,000 to £175,000 for one year only.
Free five-year loans of up to 30 per cent of a property's value will be offered to first-time buyers in England whose household income is less than £60,000.
And councils and housing associations will have more powers to help low income families avoid repossession if they cannot meet their mortgage payments.
Gordon Brown said the measures would help keep the housing market moving. But critics say it will not do anything to help and they are asking how it will all be funded?
