A Conservative-leaning think tank and campaigning charity Shelter have released a book of essays on renting and housing.

A statement from Bright Blue – which calls itself “the independent think tank for liberal conservatism” – says its work with Shelter takes the form of 16 essays offering “a fresh centre-right vision to resolve the housing crisis in the UK.”

The think tank goes on to say the publication “seeks to renew the conservative mission on housing, providing a blueprint for current and future decision makers. This book comprises four sections, each consisting of essays to resoundingly make the case for housing as a key tool in advancing four conservative goals: security, community, stewardship and conservation.”

Along with the Housing Secretary Michael Gove MP – who has written the forward for the essay collection – contributors include Tory MPs Damian Green, John Penrose, Shaun Bailey, Selaine Saxby and Jo Gideon. 

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, comments: “The housing emergency is robbing hundreds of thousands of people of a safe and secure home, and undermining the future of local communities from Cornwall to Northumberland. Private rents are skyrocketing, over a million households are stuck on social housing waiting lists and homelessness has almost doubled in the last 10 years, but time and time again housing gets left off the political agenda. 

“The government needs to start listening to the growing range of voices calling for bold action on housing, an issue that will be critical at the next General  Election. Access to a decent home is as vital as education or healthcare. The only way to make sure everyone has a home they can afford to live in, and one that allows them to thrive, is for the government to prioritise housing and build a new generation of good quality social homes with rents tied to local incomes.”

Gove says in the forward to the publication: “Every single person in this country, no matter where they are from, what they do or how much money they earn, deserves to live in a home that is decent, safe, secure and affordable. Along with the campaigners and political colleagues who have contributed to this thoughtful collection of essays, I am more committed than ever to building a modern, radical and successful conservative housing policy that works for everyone, whether they rent or own.”

And Ryan Shorthouse – the chief executive of Bright Blue – comments: “A Conservative government, now in power for 13 years, needs to make genuinely affordable and appropriate housing – of all different types of tenure – accessible to a much wider proportion of the population, especially younger generations and those on modest incomes.

“There is no silver bullet to fix the housing crisis. But, without bold and urgent steps, the housing situation in this country is only set to get worse, to the detriment of the national interest and the very survival of the centre-right. We need new, radical solutions now.”

Recommendations from the different contributors include a call to build an additional 90,000 social homes a year, extend the standard contract length of private tenancies to up to three years, a short lets register, extend the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector, and stamp duty cuts to encourage down-sizing.