article_snippet.sent: But National Housing Federation said the subsidy - which will be funded by forcing councils to sell off councils most expensive properties - will cost taxpayers £5.8billion and was effectively worth £100,000 to each family who benefited.
article_snippet.sent: Labour jumped on the remarks this morning, claiming the policy had 'unravelled' and pointed to figures showing that last year just 479 council homes were sold off – raising £100million, or 2 per cent of the funds promised by the Tories.
article_snippet.sent: But the Home Secretary Theresa May defended the policy on the BBC this morning – insisting the BBC was affordable and would give families the opportunity  to live in a home that families owned.
article_snippet.sent: Labour dropped Labour opposition to the policy but, in 1999, Tony Blair's government cut the top discount from £50,000 to £38,000 and sales slowed.
article_snippet.sent: The sell-off could net £4.5billion a year.
highlights_snippet.sent: National Housing Federation said the subsidy will cost taxpayers £5.8bn .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Claimed it was effectively worth £100,000 for each family who benefited .
  