Letters: Right to Buy gets a lot of flak but it was life-changing for people like me 

A reader argues that in many ways, Right to Buy has saved the state money it might otherwise have to pay in housing benefits.

Right to Buy’s saving grace 

There has been much negative talk in the magazine recently about the Right to Buy scheme and calls to scrap it. Please don’t do that. It has helped so many people out of renting and into their own homes, me included. I moved from a council flat into a housing association on a new estate in the late ’70s.

With rent and other bills to pay and young children there was no money to save for a deposit on a house, so when we heard about the Right to Buy scheme many of us seized the opportunity. 

Most of us are still here, but with no rent to pay there is no need to claim additional money from the state. There must be hundreds like me, saving the state thousands of pounds. So the Right to Buy scheme is not wrong, it is the way it is administered that is wrong. 

Jenny Smith 

Difficult questions 

I enjoyed your piece on the Kenmure Street protests but I challenge everyone to think about the difficult questions around immigration. Would we be happy having no immigration control at all so that anyone in the world can decide to settle in the UK? If yes, what does that mean for public services, housing etc? If no, there needs to be some kind of control, as unfair as that feels. I don’t know the background of the men in Kenmure Street and whether the system failed them, but what does ethical immigration control look like? 

Love the magazine. Really interesting articles with subjects and viewpoints that you don’t get anywhere else. Keep up the great work!

Helen 

In the good books

What a fascinating essay from Xandra Bingley, ‘The Literary Life’. Just an interesting personal story, told with intelligence and thoughtfulness. It was like listening to a wise older relative. You published another the other week by Fatima Bhutto about her father and her dog that was equally enjoyable. Well done to whoever is choosing these pieces. I cannot think of any other magazine publishing such random and well-chosen gems.

Damien Devaney 

SEND hope

I wanted to add my voice for families who support their child with disabilities and special needs. My own family has gone through exactly what is described. The process prompted my daughter to write a book, Diagnosis Human, reminding us that every person counts. Those who lay down laws should read it, to knowhow hard the struggle is for parents who want only what is essential for the child to survive in our world. 

Joyce Richardson

Responses to: I shrank my own economy to live a less capitalist life  

I downsized my life in 2015, putting focus on memories and loved ones, work-life balance, smaller home and spending as little as I can. I’m much happier for it.

Claire Watkins, Facebook

We all need money, yes, but these days it’s a new kind of faith. People love talking about it. My wife and I are hopefully downsizing home soon so we can make a difference in our lives.

Keith Smith, Facebook

Stop buying new, that way yet more of the planet’s dwindling resources are not used. How many of everything do we really need, when one is enough for the job?

Phill Gee

Read more:

• ‘Urgent’ action needed on Right to Buy reforms after Yo-yo Homes ‘scandal’, Labour figures say
• Councils buy back £34m of ex-Right to Buy homes for over 3x sale price in ‘economic madness’
• ‘We must remove the shackles of stigma’: Five ways Labour wants to shake-up Right to Buy

Punk’s pique

Claiming punk is past its peak disregards the living, breathing and flourishing scenes around the world. In the Czech Republic punk is alive and well. There are concerts nearly every weekend. New bands pop up all the time. There is still the sense of community, DIY ethos, resistance against the mainstream. It is easy to pretend punk is long gone, if you do not engage with it. 

I find the idea of Taylor Swift being punk laughable. Punk has given me friends and community, a voice, a sense of belonging. It saddens me that, instead of uplifting the existing scenes, bands both old and new, you have chosen to uplift the biggest mainstream artist instead.

Agnes, Czech Republic

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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