The Haringey Lib Dems have urged the council to oppose government plans on the right-to-buy social housing.

Leader of the Labour run council Claire Kober recently described government plans as “counterproductive” but the Liberal Democrats are calling on them to go further.

The motion will be discussed at the next meeting of Haringey Council on Monday July 20.

Cllr Dave Beacham, Haringey Lib Dem housing spokesman said: "There are currently 9,200 households on the council housing waiting list in Haringey– we desperately need more affordable homes, we certainly can’t afford to lose any. That’s why we believe the Labour-run council needs to go further and oppose the Government policy on housing associations homes.

“The Lib Dems are in favour of home ownership but not at the cost of reducing affordable rented property which will push far more people into unaffordable private rental housing and would then push up the housing benefit bill, meaning a double whammy for tax payers.

“The Conservative Government should look at shared ownership or the ‘Rent to Own’ scheme put forward by the Liberal Democrats instead.”

At the end of May council leader Claire Kober released a statement criticising the Tory plans for right-to-buy of housing association properties.

She said: “This counterproductive policy would choke the supply of new homes across London at the very time our city is battling a chronic housing shortage.

“Forcing councils and housing associations to sell off the few affordable homes that remain in areas where prices are skyrocketing will only serve to exacerbate – not resolve – the housing crisis.

“The research shows that, far from helping families onto the housing ladder, this policy would leave the simple right to an affordable home further out of reach for many in London.”