European progressives must tackle housing crisis to beat far right, say researchers

Centre-left parties can build a broad new coalition of support if they tackle Europe’s deepening housing crisis, researchers have said. Conversely, ignoring it risks pushing increasingly fed-up voters into the arms of the far right.

Research by the Progressive Politics Research Network (PPRNet) suggests dramatic rises in the cost of housing over recent years have eroded support for centre-left parties – once the champions of affordable housing – and fuelled anti-establishment disaffection.

“Housing affordability has become a critical economic and political issue,” said Prof Aidan Regan of University College Dublin. “With credible solutions, progressive parties can reclaim that space, and bring voters with them – but it will need real political will.”

A Eurobarometer survey last year