How can Gordon Brown help first-time buyers in the UK housing market?

[Jifri]

There's a growing groundswell of opposition to the substantial discounts given by builders to private investors who buy houses to let. Rightly or wrongly, first-time buyers blame them for pushing up house prices.

As in North America and Australia, most private buy-to-let investors are ordinary people who see their investment as an ideal way to create enough retirement pension to live on.

As Chancellor, Gordon Brown's record on 'improving pensions' was hardly a success, and the UK old-age pension (US: social security) is no longer enough to live on.

Can we believe that as Prime Minister he will actually help house buyers by bringing changes to the housing market? Or just stop those trying to help themselves in old age?