Angela Rayner admitted Labour only has a ‘slim chance’ of hitting the new homes target.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner (Image: Getty)
Labour’s flagship 1.5 million new homes pledge has been slammed as a “big fat lie” as Angela Rayner suggested the target won’t be achieved. The House Secretary admitted there is only a “slim chance” the Government will meet the goal by the next election.
Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Rayner said she would not “give up” on the target. She argued international “headwinds” had made it harder to accomplish. However, Reform UK’s education spokesperson Suella Braverman suggested Ms Rayner’s comments showed the new homes target in England was never realistic.
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In a post on X, the former Conservative home secretary said: “First the humiliating u-turn on her awful plans for Local Government Reorganisation plans earlier this week.
“Now she is forced to admit that her flagship promise of building 1.5 million homes was always a big fat lie.
“Is there anything she says that we can actually take seriously?!?”
Industry experts and councils have long warned the target is impossible.
Official estimates suggest Labour’s first two years in power saw 392,400 new homes built, indicating housebuilding will need to accelerate to meet the target.
Research published in July showed more than 1,000 new homes would need to be built each day to meet the pledge.
When asked whether the Government could hit the target, Ms Rayner told Kuenssberg: “It’s a slim chance, but I’m definitely not giving it up.
“I think it’s really important that we keep a target, that it was always a stretch target.”
She added: “The Prime Minister wants us to make sure we’re building council houses. He’s made that absolutely, fundamentally clear.
“We’ve just announced £10 billion into a social and affordable homes programme. We’re seeing home-starts up by 15% last year, so we are making a difference.
“But the headwinds that are coming our way internationally and through those construction costs are having a negative effect on that target.”
Despite the cash injection for social and affordable homes across England, Andy Burnham has faced accusations he had watered down his previous commitment to spend all £39 billion of the Government’s affordable housing budget on council homes.
GB News turns tense in explosive migrant clash: ‘Be quiet!’
Presenter Ben Leo fired back at political commentator Matthew Stadlen.
Ben Leo fired back at Matthew Stadlen after he attempted to interrupt him (Image: GB News)
GB News took a tense turn on Sunday (13 September) as presenter Ben Leo clashed with political commentator Matthew Stadlen live on air. Appearing on the programme to discuss the impact of the French deal on the small boats crisis, the duo also reflected on ex-Chancellor George Osborne‘s calls for the UK to rejoin the customs union.
“I suspect that if we were to rejoin the customs union, it would help us economically,” Matthew began. “There’s no doubt that Brexit has harmed us economically – [but] that doesn’t mean I think we should have another referendum.”
“Anyway, despite the anti-Britishness being peddled by your guest Thomas there, we have over the first two quarters, over the first half of this year, the highest growth – it’s not massive growth – but the highest growth in the G7 and that, of course, includes the United States of America,” he continued.
“I’m also astonished to hear from you, Ben, that you think France should be treated as a hostile state,” Matthew noted, firing at the GB News host.
“What would that involve? Does that mean we would get banned from going to France on our summer holidays? How far do you take this?”
“Absolutely,” Ben replied. “There is nothing more serious than what is going on with the small boats crisis,” he declared, before Matthew attempted to cut in, talking over the journalist.
“Hang on, I’m talking now,” Ben snapped back, raising his voice. “You just had a monologue, so be quiet! The national security, there have been thousands of men – we don’t know who they are or where they’re from, what their intentions are – breaking into Britain.
“That should be the number-one national security issue for this nation. If that means severing ties with France politically and economically, I say do it.”
Former Chancellor George Osborne is calling for the UK to rejoin the customs union (Image: Getty)
Following the fiery debate, viewers were quick to respond on X. “@Benleo, that’s the problem with the left, they think they only have the right to speak, and everyone else has to shut up. Sorry @MatthewStadlen, it ain’t happening,” wrote one. “Well done, Ben. Why does GB News have that nasty person on?” added a second.
Among the comments, however, others questioned the journalist’s stance on cutting ties with France. “So there you have it, straight out of Ben Leo’s mouth. We should ban people from going on holiday to France and sever economic ties with France. Has Leo gone completely crazy?” tweeted a third. “Has Ben Leo taken leave of his senses?” quipped a fourth.