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The Labour Leader yesterday (SUN) said the UK must \u201cget real about where we\u2019re going to build\u201d to solve the housing crisis while pledging to review rules about building on the green belt.<\/p>\n
But Conservative MP Gareth Bacon said: \u201cKeir Starmer\u2019s comments offer further proof that a Labour government would be a direct threat to the green belt.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen taken with his \u2018open borders\u2019 approach to immigration, the threat becomes even greater. \u201cMake no mistake, a Labour government could directly lead to the end of the green belt as we know it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Housing Minister Esther Mcvey also said Mr Starmer \u201ccannot be trusted to protect the countryside and precious green belt\u201d.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cOnce it is gone, it is gone for good. What he should be concentrating on is how to control immigration so we don\u2019t need as many houses, but he has got no interest at all in doing that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should also be focusing new housing on brownfield sites and close to town and city centres to revive our high streets.<\/p>\n
People who want to protect our greenbelt now know that they cannot vote Labour at the general election.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Ferrari mocks Keir Starmer over Labour picket line cave-in<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking at the start of the Labour conference in Liverpool, Mr Starmer said his party would set a target of 1.5 million new homes over five years.<\/p>\n He contrasted this approach with Rishi Sunak\u2019s decision last year to scrap national house building targets following pressure from Conservative MPs.<\/p>\n Sir Keir said: \u201cWe put the targets back up to get building happening. We have to challenge the planning laws, we have to get real about where we\u2019re going to build and we have to work with developers to get there at speed.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can be done. But it will never be done by a government that simply takes down targets because the prime minister is too weak to stand up to his own party.\u201d<\/p>\n Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the party would work to bring an end to \u201cland banking\u201d and give local authorities powers to build council and social housing where needed.<\/p>\n Asked about concerns over potential building on the green belt, she told BBC Breakfast: \u201cThere\u2019s lots of land that\u2019s already identified and has got planning to develop but the developers are not developing it, so we will push to make sure that happens\u201d.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cIt\u2019s not that we haven\u2019t got the land, the land is identified, but we have this situation where there is land banking, where developers are not building.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will ensure that they do build and we will give local authorities powers to build council housing and social housing where we need it.\u201d<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n