GORDON BROWN launched his political fightback today with plans to buy unsold homes to help poor families into good properties.

Some [pounds]200 million of taxpayers' money will be used to scoop up newly built properties that developers have been unable to sell.

Only an estimated 1,000 homes could be bought, but the symbolic aim is to show the Government is "on the side" of aspiring young families desperate to get into good quality homes.

It could also give a minor boost to the ailing property market by clearing excess supply.

Some of the homes would be made available to low-income families to buy under the shared equity scheme that permits young people to buy a share and pay rent on the ...