Angela Rayner has conceded there is only a “slim chance” the Government will meet its flagship pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by the next election, prompting Reform UK’s education spokesperson Suella Braverman to label the promise a “big fat lie”.
Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, the Housing Secretary said she would not “give up” on the target, arguing that international “headwinds” had made it harder to accomplish.
Braverman hits out at 'big fat lie'
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?!?”
Target 'always a stretch'
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 pledge.
Research published in July showed more than 1,000 new homes would need to be built each day to meet the target.
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.”
£10 billion housing programme announced
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.
Labour has pressed ahead with controversial changes to overhaul the planning system in a bid to get spades in the ground more quickly.
