Sir Keir Starmer has hailed his Government as ‘builders, not blockers’ as he vowed to roll out 1.5 million new homes – including controversial developments on protected Green Belt land.
But a Mail on Sunday investigation can reveal that in recent years 14 members of Labour’s frontbench have together blocked the building of tens of thousands of homes in their constituencies.
Among the so-called Nimbys – for their not-in-my-backyard stance – is Environment Secretary Steve Reed, who voiced concern about plans for 237 homes in south London.
And Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who is now Housing Secretary, once vowed to join a human chain made up of protesters objecting to family homes being built in Greater Manchester.
Now Sir Keir has declared himself a ‘Yimby’ – yes-in-my-backyard – and vowed to take difficult decisions to ‘bulldoze’ opponents trying to block house-building.
Pictured: Angela Rayner with local activists to stop construction work on a green space in 2019. A Mail On Sunday investigation can reveal that 14 Labour members have blocked the building of tens of thousands of homes in their constituencies in recent years.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Environment Secretary Steve Reed are among MPs that have fought against homes being built in their constituencies
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently opposed a bid to build 408 homes in Wakefield
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, fought against plans for 800 homes, a high school and an NHS clinic in east London
But among multiple examples of Labour ministers voicing their opposition to developments, Health Secretary Wes Streeting fought against plans for 800 homes, a high school and an NHS clinic in east London, while Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden opposed plans for 1,300 homes in Wolverhampton.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently opposed a bid to build 408 homes in Wakefield.
Critics last night accused the Government of ‘hypocrisy’ after ministers vowed to steamroll though plans to build new estates and towns across the countryside.
On July 8 – days after Labour swept to power – Mr Reed asked London Mayor Sadiq Khan to launch an inquiry into an application for 237 new homes – 35 per cent of them set to be ‘affordable housing’ – in Streatham.
Proud campaigner Ms Rayner said in 2019 that she was prepared to form a human chain with protesters to stop diggers moving in at her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency. ‘If we see any contractors here I’m happy to stand in front of them so they can’t get through me,’ she reportedly said.
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden opposed plans for 1,300 homes in Wolverhampton
Sadiq Khan (left) with Angela Rayner (centre) and Sir Keir Starmer (right) at the launch of a Freedom to Buy scheme
Ms Rayner also joined forces with Housing Minister Jim McMahon and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to oppose a plan to build 227,200 homes in Greater Manchester by 2035. It was eventually scaled back to 165,000 homes.
Last night Mr McFadden insisted he had ‘supported many new housing developments in my constituency over the years’.
Mr Reed said he had asked for the Streatham scheme to be reviewed, not blocked.
Sources close to Ms Rayner said she had raised concerns over building five homes on a much-loved local green.
Conservative housing spokeswoman Kemi Badenoch said: ‘Sir Keir Starmer said that Labour would be ‘builders, not blockers’ yet he has appointed a Cabinet full of blockers.’
But in a statement on behalf of ministers last night, Labour said: ‘The Government is determined that we have the right homes, in the right place with the right services.’
Now Nandy is Cancelled!
By Grant Tucker, Entertainment Editor
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy – who has declared the ‘era of culture wars is over’ – has been cancelled by the Liverpool Philharmonic.
She was set to speak at an event in the orchestra’s hall in September during the Labour Party conference.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has been cancelled by the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra over ‘local sensitivities’ relating to memoirs published eight years ago by event host Iain Dale of LBC about Sir Norman Bettison, a police officer at the Hillsborough disaster
But the plug was pulled after a ‘pile on’ on X because eight years ago event host Iain Dale, of LBC, published the memoirs of Sir Norman Bettison, a police officer present at the Hillsborough disaster.
The orchestra cancelled the event over ‘local sensitivities’.
Dale, 62, said last night it was ‘outrageous’ that it had bowed to pressure online.
