Shapps calls housing target a con

Laura Stavro-Beauchamp
20-Nov-2008
Grant Shapps, shadow minister of housing, has called Gordon Brown's pledge to build 3 million homes by 2020 a con.
Responding to the latest Department of Communities and Local Government figures that reveal only 126,700 new homes were built over the last year – a fall of 26%.

Shapps says: “Brown’s pledge to build 3 million homes is crumbling around him. Even his own housing minister has made admitted that the Prime Minister’s target is completely unachievable.

"It’s time for the Prime Minister to come clean and admit that his housing target is a complete con."

Shapps says that affordable housing measures were proposed to generate positive headlines.

He further attacks Labour's policies like Home Information Packs saying they have stifled new builds and created confusion.

Shapps adds: “Labour could kick-start the market by axing stamp duty for first-time buyers on properties up to £250,000 and help nine out of 10 first-time buyers."