A letter to Mr Cameron shared on facebook

He can't be that young if he's a Reverend. I thought it was going to a sixth former writing.

Perhaps he could put forward his answers to the problems. Realistic ones.

I thought it was a young person too Jinglebells. All I think he is asking for is a little more understanding of poverty in old industrial areas where jobs are hard to come by and many people can't afford to even think about buying their own homes as their needs are much more immediate.

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Not that young, judging by his photo!

Younger than me. Ayse wrote younger, not young.
I'd like to see what response he gets.

His comment about people being scared is spot on.

it's part of the job for clergymen to think about the poor.This may well be a real letter, but it also may not be, with the Internet it could be anyone writing, the language if you look at it seems to be simple, but certain words like 'couched' for example would seem to be written by an older person.
where I live, for the last ten years and more young people cannot afford to buy a house, even if they both earn decent salaries, prices are crazy here, double the price in some cases of those in the North.The only thing to ease this is building more houses that are more affordable.House building has been going on for the last year around here, in very high amounts and I think all across the UK. however much people don't want loads more houses built in towns and villages, this is the only answer to the problem, so in a year or so, this must help house prices as it's all supply and demand.

Don't really care about the age of this person; whoever they are, they sum up exactly how I at this moment in time. Wouldn't it be better for people to read what has been written and try to understand why it was written rather than just ponder on the age of the writer . Why should they ask the question and give the answers; isn't that why we vote for MP's.

What's house building got to do with it, roises?

Maybe that the houses being built are for sale, not for council housing?

Many councils lost too much money when they invested it, and still haven't managed to get it back, despite cuts. Maintenance of social housing is expensive, with so many not actually paying enough to cover their costs. So councils are loathe to build more in many areas.

Well, I did say it was written because he is a clergyman and it's part of the job to think about the poor.We know nothing about him though and his politics.He says'go to Newcastle and talk to people still living in poverty due to the demise of the coal industry' that was a long time ago and we have had several Labour governments since then . I don't think this is really a letter from somebody with no political axe to grind tbh.

Very little being built in the way of social housing. I understand that building companies are no longer obliged to include social housing in their developments and the only way councils can get more housing built is to give permission for private development.

Ayse mentioned young people not being able to afford their own homes.
council house building has been on the up for the last five years, as has housing association houses in my area, which is a very good thing, and hopefully will continue.

Tegan, I read the letter first, before commenting, and I'm pretty sure everyone else on this thread did, as some of the speculation about the age of the writer referred to the content of the letter and the language used.

Ayse I can only tell you that it definitely IS a fact in my part of the world and probably all of the UK that builders have to build a proportion of housing association houses along with even small developments.Some people have grumbled in my village about this, but I am all for it.We are a large village about to become even larger by 350 or more houses.It may depend on the attitude of district councils around the country.

DJ although that point is at a bit of a tangent, I do believe house building is relevant, quite apart from the obvious fact that houses are needed. A healthy construction industry provides employment, puts cash in the pockets of workers who, by spending, stimulate the economy. The direct and indirect tax- take increases. Would also provide huge numbers of apprenticeships.

In the 30's it was the national housebuilding programme that helped the country out of the great depression.

I like this letter as it expresses how so many people who are not London-based feel. It could be, that if it attracts enough publicity and the press cotton on, DC might just take up the challenge to show us he's a 'good bloke'.

I have to admit that my response was due to another response from someone who admitted they had voted Conservative because they'd 'increased the inheritance tax considerably' and I felt that someone who chose their party from that perspective would at least read the contents of the letter and ponder on the implications for people poorer than themselves rather than the age of the writer and that makes me feel very sad.

Tegan. Because the "younger" bit seemed to be a bit of a headline.
And a bit integral to everything.
Now that we find that he is not that young, it brings trust issues into things.
Personally, and I am only speaking personally, if trust is in doubt right from the outset, it sets alarm bells ringing for me, and I then take what else is written with a big pinch of salt.
I read it, but with different eyes.
I realise that is not how lots of people do life, but that is how I personally do things.

Other than that good letter, except for the business part.

But ruined for me.

I had assumed that the inheritance tax thing on another thread was a joke.

So did I.

As regards business.
I do think that the country needs to be run business like.
And then the conservatives need to have more knowledge of issues that affect poorer people, so they have more heart than some of them do.

I didnt. I got lost on that thread because of possible jokes, so I stopped reading it as I couldnt follow it.

Why would you assume it was a joke roses? I'm sure there must be quite a few gransnetters who have property worth a million, particularly if they live in the South East. We're all from different backgrounds and that's not a judgement, just a fact.

It certainly won't affect me.

I'm assuming that was 'tongue in cheek' nightowl

I don't think you'd find many million pound houses in my area of SE which is 50 miles outside London. My 3 bed semi with garden and garage is worth about £200,000.

I agree we are all different which makes this site so interesting and of course there maybe a million pound property owner out there but I think they would be the exception. Sorry if I'm wrong.