Jack Dromey MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister, responding to the letter from Newham council asking a housing association in Stoke-on-Trent to accommodate up to 500 families on housing benefit, said: 

"Britain is facing a growing housing crisis.  

"Soaring rents and collapsing affordable house building are making families homeless and forcing them to move hundreds of miles from home. Eric Pickles own private secretary warned privately that proposals would force families out of London. They tried to deny this but now we know the truth.