Whether convener stays or goes, housing crisis remains

Edinburgh's embattled housing convener, Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron is right when she says that the Scottish Government's £13.8 million boost for affordable housing in the city is not enough.

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The Capital is set to receive double its share of the government's "voids and acquisition" fund, bringing its total funding for affordable housing in this financial year to nearly £74 million.

On paper that looks like a substantial investment towards meeting Edinburgh's housing emergency, but Cllr Cameron says it is still not enough. The council's housing strategy estimates the city needs up to 35,000 additional affordable homes over the next decade to meet demand.

Far too many people are being forced into expensive private rented accommodation. Nearly one quarter of the city's homes are in the private rented sector, compared to 13 per cent across the rest of Scotland.

Many of these will be students and young professionals, not ready or unable to enter the city's expensive housing market, but the majority will be Edinburgh folk who will never be able to buy a family home.