Emma has called on the Tory government to get a grip on the housing crisis. A study by a leading think tank has shown that homeownership in the UK has plunged to its lowest level for 30 years because of soaring house prices, squeezed incomes and a critical property shortage.

The study by the Resolution Foundation shows that the proportion of people owning their own home across England peaked at 71 per cent in 2003, but since then this has steadily dropped to 63 per cent, the same level as in 1986.

Back then the average first-time buyer paid just under £30,000 for a new home but by last year this had topped £150,000 in England, pushing more and more people into rented accommodation. Over the last decade there has been an 11.2% drop in homeownership in the West Midlands.

Emma said, “I am concerned that a growing number of people in Wolverhampton are struggling to buy a home or get on the housing ladder. This study clearly shows that there is an urgent and growing housing crisis which is spreading across our country. Homeownership in the West Midlands has declined by over eleven per cent over the past decade.

“Across the country, homeownership has fallen to a 30-year low. Even though there is a new prime minister, the government still has no comprehensive plan to tackle the housing crisis. The Conservative party has been in power for the last six years and it has repeatedly failed to get a grip on this issue.

“I am calling on the government to bring forward a long term plan to boost house building, increase the number of affordable and council homes, tackle homelessness and support private renters.”