[ianch99]

But aren't these housing schemes driven by political ideology and not what is in the best long term best interest of the country?

The Tory mantra since Thatcher came to power was "privatise and then let the market decide" and so, in this case as you have clearly and succinctly pointed out, the market has decided that the tax payer must pay more for housing the needy. I guess it is sort of obvious in hindsight: if you sell your housing stock at a loss and do not replace it, you then will have to pay the market rate when you need to source social housing. The market has no morality so you pay the going rate.

If the country votes for a party that puts profit above social responsibility then you do get what you pay for I suppose. I do include the previous quasi-Tory Labour government here.