Labour leader and PM clash over housebuilding targets

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak clashed over housebuilding and housing market support yesterday.

Sir Keir questioned Sunak’s decision to drop housebuilding targets during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday and claimed he has failed families due to rising mortgage rates and a lack of support.

The Government officially watered-down proposals for mandatory local housebuilding targets in its flagship Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill last year.

It saw off a backbench rebellion by stating that while housing targets remain, they will be advisory and are a starting point with “new flexibilities to reflect local circumstances.”

Speaking yesterday, Sir Keir said housebuilding has since collapsed due to Sunak’s decision to “cave in to backbenchers.”

He was accused of “shattering the dream” of those wanting to own their own home and also those wanting a mortgage due to rising rates.

The Labour leader also questioned how effective the Treasury’s mortgage charter would be and queried how the Conservatives can be the party of homeownership.

Sunak responded that record numbers of new homes have been built in each of the past three years, while the number of first-time buyers was at a 20-year high.

He said he was giving power back to local people.