Sunak branded ‘weak’ after rebel Tories block targets for building new homes
RISHI Sunak has been accused of being weak and “in office and not in power” after caving in to backbench Tory MPS over housebuilding targets to avoid a Commons rebellion.
The Prime Minister’s Communities Secretary, Michael Gove, last night confirmed mandatory targets intended to address the housing crisis in England and Wales would be axed.
In a letter to MPS, Mr Gove said the measure would be included in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.
He said there was “no truly objective way of calculating how many new homes are needed in an area” but a “plan making process for housing has to start with a number”.
However a centrally determined target for new homes would only be a “starting point”, and councils would be able to propose building fewer homes if they faced “genuine constraints” or would have to build at a density that would “significantly change the character” of their area.
Mr Gove added: “New development must have the support of local communities.
“That requires people to know it will be beautiful, accompanied by the right infrastructure, approved democratically, that it will enhance the environment and create proper neighbourhoods.
“These principles have always been key to our reforms and we are now going further by strengthening our commitment to build the right homes in the right places and put local people at the heart of decision-making.”
The climbdown is a win for Tory backbenchers led by former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers and MP Bob Seely, who had proposed a series of amendments to the Bill. Around 60 MPS had signed an amendment scrapping mandatory housing targets.
Ms Villiers said the Government had “listened” and the reforms would “rebalance the planning system ”.
But Tory 2019 manifesto co-author Robert Colville said the U-turn would “enshrine ‘nimbyism’ as the governing principle of British society”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer last week offered Mr Sunak Labour votes to bring in the mandatory targets.
Shadow Communities Secretary Lisa Nandy called the U-turn “unconscionable in the middle of a housing crisis”, adding: “We offered Labour votes to defeat the rebels, but Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove seem to have chosen party before country.
“This is so weak. In office but not in power.”