Successive governments have failed to produce a coherent long-term strategy for housing, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has said.

In a report, the Rics housing commission said some of the coalition's policies were providing short-term help for the house-building industry.

But it argued that ministers' lack of consistency over the past 50 years has exacerbated the failures of the market.

The government said it was cleaning up the mess left by its predecessor.

But Labour's Jack Dromey said the coalition had failed to prevent the "biggest housing crisis in a generation".

The Rics study concluded that the housing market has not delivered enough homes at affordable prices.

It welcomed the government's Help to Buy scheme - which lends people up to 20% of the value of a new-build home - but called for further action to increase the supply of properties.

Thats a no [LIFTED] sherlock report. Though the comment from Dromey just proves the point about short termism.. "we didnt do anything for 13 years but well blame the current lot fit the mess at the moment

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Question: Who here would honestly vote for someone who pledged to increase income tax in order to pay for social housing?

No? Thought not...

So you would be happy for them to sell off the remaining affordable housing stock to fund tax cuts?

Lolwut? No, I wouldn't.

My point was much the opposite - I have voted for income tax increases in the past and would do so again. Alas, I seem to be very much in the minority.

Question: Who here would honestly vote for someone who pledged to increase income tax in order to pay for social housing?

No? Thought not...

I have no problem with higher taxes if the money's actually going where it needs to go. Though hitting the real avoiders would probably mean not having to.