By Steve Bargeton, political editor

CAMPAIGNERS MARCHED on Holyrood yesterday calling on the Scottish Government to fund the construction of 30,000 affordable rented homes.

Shelter Scotland handed in 30,000 postcards from the public to Finance Secretary John Swinney in what they claim is the biggest housing protest since the rent strikes of 1915.

The charity wants to put housing at the top of the political agenda as ministers prepare for the autumn spending review.

“There are 200,000 people on waiting lists in Scotland, 8000 people in temporary accommodation and there isn’t a town in Scotland now that has an average house price of under £100,000,” said Shelter director Archie Stoddart.

“There are problems in Edinburgh, for example. We had the case of 700 people applying for a single council house.

“But we also have problems in rural areas where people simply cannot afford to stay in the area they grew up in.

“The issues are across Scotland.”

A government spokesman said providing more affordable housing was a “top priority”.

He added, “Our plans include a consultation this autumn that will outline plans to reform social housing in Scotland.”

The Scottish Tories want to see the introduction of “affordable homes trusts” with two- thirds of funding coming from the private sector.

Communities spokesman Jamie McGrigor said the trusts, which would raise £100 million a year, would be the biggest boost to home ownership since the introduction of right to buy more than 25 years ago.

“There is no reason why you can’t have just as many houses— it’s just that they aren’t owned by councils,” he said.

Liberal Democrat communities spokesman Jim Tolson said, “A major obstacle to the development of affordable housing is the lack of available land.

“I want to see the Scottish Government getting around the table with land-holding bodies such as the Ministry of Defence, the NHS and the Forestry Commission to ensure that the necessary land is made available to meet the demand for affordable housing across Scotland.”