Badenoch and Cleverly attack Labour housing record after Tory reshuffle
Sir James Cleverly was appointed shadow housing secretary this week (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Labour, which has pledged to deliver 1.5 million homes by the next parliament, said the country was still 'living with the consequences' of the Tories' 'disastrous decision to abolish mandatory housing targets'.
Mrs Badenoch said the Prime Minister is 'seemingly more concerned about homes for illegal migrants than getting Britain building' following remarks made by Sir Keir to Parliament's Liaison Committee.
Sir Keir has suggested there is 'lots of housing available' to accommodate both rising numbers of homeless people and asylum seekers when asked about the need to house both groups.
'Under my leadership, Conservatives will stand up for property rights. Private owners should not face the threat of their property being taken over by the council to house illegal immigrants,' she said.
Sir James said: 'This Labour government is totally failing the country, and the capital, on housing – and under Kemi's leadership, I am ready to lead the fight against this failure.'
Ahead of a joint visit with Mrs Badenoch on Wednesday, he criticised actions such as cancelling the London Plan review of housing and 'using precious stock to house asylum seekers'.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has withdrawn the review, which had been ordered by the previous government, to pave the way for what she called a 'partnership approach' to development between Government and City Hall.
The joint visit is the first since Mrs Badenoch reshuffled her front bench on Wednesday as part of efforts to demonstrate what she described as the Tories' 'mission of renewal'.
Former foreign secretary Sir James will shadow Ms Rayner in the housing, communities and local government brief, while ex-Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden becomes shadow transport secretary.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has reshuffled her front bench (Chris Radburn/PA)
Kevin Hollinrake has been appointed party chairman, replacing Nigel Huddleston, who will become shadow culture secretary.Stuart Andrew will become shadow health secretary, replacing Edward Argar, who resigned citing health reasons.
Julia Lopez has been appointed shadow science secretary, taking over from Alan Mak, who has left the shadow cabinet.
Gareth Bacon has been replaced by Mr Holden in his transport brief and demoted from the shadow cabinet, but remains minister for London.
Sir James served in the Foreign Office and as home secretary when the Conservatives were in power before spending months on the back benches after coming third in the Tory leadership contest last year.
The MP for Braintree in Essex has since used his influential position as a former minister to warn against pursuing a populist agenda akin to Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
In the same speech, he also said he wanted to return the Tories to government 'at every level,' amid speculation he could harbour ambitions of running for the London mayoralty held by Sir Sadiq Khan in 2028.
He has also urged the Conservatives to reject climate change 'luddites' on the right who believe 'the way things are now is just fine,' in remarks that were widely seen as at odds with the net-zero stance of the Tory leader.
In a press release ahead of the joint visit, the Tories described Sir James as a 'political heavyweight' who will take the fight to Labour 'over their failure to provide the people of Britain with the houses they need – particularly in London, ahead of the mayoral elections in 2028.'
The release contained no new Conservative housing policy announcements, after Mrs Badenoch said she did not want to rush into new proposals following the party's election defeat last year.
A Labour spokesperson said: 'No amount of deckchair shuffling can hide that the architects of 14 years of Tory failure still sit around Kemi Badenoch's top table.
'We're still living with the consequences of the Tories' disastrous decision to torpedo supply by abolishing mandatory housing targets.
'While Labour is working in partnership with regions to turn the tide on the acute and entrenched housing crisis, the Conservatives haven't changed and they haven't once apologised for the mess they left behind.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Businesses set to be fined for late payments under new rules
Companies that consistently delay payments to their suppliers are set to face substantial fines, potentially running into millions of pounds, as the Prime Minister issued a stern warning that "it's time to pay up". In a significant move to bolster support for small businesses, the government is poised to unveil plans granting the small business commissioner enhanced powers to penalise large firms for persistent late payments. The commissioner will also gain new authority to enforce a crucial rule: suppliers must be paid within 30 days of a valid invoice, unless alternative terms have been agreed. This will be backed by spot checks designed to help identify breaches. Further legislation on the horizon will introduce maximum payment terms, initially set at 60 days, which will subsequently be reduced to 45 days. Sir Keir Starmer has highlighted the burden on businesses, stating that "too many hardworking people are being forced to spend precious hours chasing payments", a process he described as "exhausting". 'From builders and electricians to freelance designers and manufacturers — too many hardworking people are being forced to spend precious hours chasing payments instead of doing what they do best – growing their businesses,' Sir Keir said. 'It's unfair, it's exhausting and it's holding Britain back. 'So, our message is clear, it's time to pay up. 'Through our small business plan, we're not only tackling the scourge of late payments once and for all, but we're giving small business owners the backing and stability they need for their business to thrive, driving growth across the country through our plan for change.' The crackdown on late payments is part of a wider Government package and sits alongside a move to pump £4 billion of financial support into small business start-ups and growth. This is set to include £1 billion for new firms, with 69,000 start-up loans and mentoring support. 'This country is home to some of the brightest entrepreneurs and innovative businesses in the world, and we want to unleash their full potential by giving them back time and money to do what they do best – growing our local economies,' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said. 'Our small business plan – the first in over a decade – is slashing unnecessary admin costs, making it easier for businesses to set up shop and giving SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) the financial backing they need.' Andrew Griffith, the Conservative shadow business secretary, said: 'Cracking down on late payments will be welcome for small business but will mean nothing for the 218,000 businesses that have closed under Labour. 'The reality for businesses under Labour is a doubling of business rates, a £25 billion jobs tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape. 'Only the Conservatives are on the side of the makers and will support businesses across Britain to create jobs and wealth.'
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Disability payment should be simplified and made more accessible, review finds
An independent review of the Scottish disability payment has called for the benefit to be simplified and made more accessible. Led by charity leader Edel Harris, the review calls for automatic entitlement to the benefit in some cases. The report, commissioned by the Scottish Government, found while the adult disability payment is more 'compassionate' than the UK benefit it replaced, some people still face barriers and distress when applying. Ms Harris welcomed several changes from the previous assessments carried out by the UK Department for Work and Pensions, but said there is more to be done to deliver a human rights-based approach to the benefit that delivers for disabled people. The chairwoman of the Adult Disability Payment Review made more than 50 recommendations to improve the service. They include embedding a 'trauma-informed, stigma-free' approach to assessments, simplifying the application process, improving communication from staff, and reviewing the eligibility criteria. The report recommends the application process is made easier for those with fluctuating conditions and mental health problems, and calls for welfare advice services to be sustainably funded. Ms Harris said: 'Adult disability payment has been described by many as a step-change – kinder in tone and more dignified in approach. 'But too often, disabled people still find the system difficult to navigate, time-consuming, and anxiety-inducing. 'I heard consistently that if we are to realise social security as an investment in people, it is important to ensure that the eligibility criteria fulfil this goal. 'This review highlights the importance of a system that is not only compassionate, but practical and accessible. 'The recommendations are based on real experiences and a shared commitment to making adult disability payment work better for everyone who needs it.' Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'The Scottish Government's approach to providing social security is a compassionate one, based on dignity, fairness and respect, and I am very encouraged to read the feedback from disabled people that this has been reflected in their positive interactions with Social Security Scotland. 'While the UK Government seeks to make cuts to the vital support disabled people rely on, I want to make clear that we will not cut adult disability payment. 'Instead, we will work to protect and enhance Scotland's social security system, improving on what we have achieved so far. 'I very much appreciate the comprehensive recommendations this report provides for how we can improve adult disability payment.' Ms Somerville said the Scottish Government will 'carefully consider all of the recommendations' in the report and provide its initial response by January next year. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
How much Labour's foot-dragging is costing your retirement
Labour promised a wide-reaching pensions overhaul in its election manifesto to improve the nation's financial security in retirement. True to its word, just a month after its landslide victory, a comprehensive two-part review was announced. Eyebrows were quickly raised, however, as phase one rolled out and it became clear the overhaul was more about generating economic growth for the Government than boosting savers' returns. Even when phase two was finally outlined earlier this month, the review shunned any immediate action and instead set up a Pensions Commission. It will take around 18 months to report back on how to tackle key issues like savings rates and auto-enrolment – the mechanism that signs workers up for a pension unless they opt out. In the meantime, ministers have confirmed that a major pillar of the reforms – the amount which savers and employers must contribute – will not increase this Parliament. It's a decision that could cost workers six figures by the time they stop working. With a fifth of Britain's 15 million pension savers on course to retire in poverty, and reliance on the state pension increasing, Telegraph Money teamed up with Hargreaves Lansdown to explain how much Labour's delays could cost you in retirement. Workers Cost to pension pot: £106,000 Under the current rules, workers must be automatically enrolled into a pension if they earn at least £10,000 and are aged between 22 and state pension age. In return for a 5pc minimum contribution from the employee, their employer must add at least 3pc. There are widespread calls from experts to increase both minimum saving rates to 6pc. With any changes ruled out for this Parliament, however, this now won't happen for at least four years, and any eventual progress is expected to be gradual. According to Hargreaves Lansdown, a 22-year-old earning £23,500 and putting 8pc into their pension until age 68 would have an eventual pot of £213,000. But if the rates were increased to 12pc overall, they would have £319,000 – meaning they would miss out on £106,000. Self-employed Cost to pension pot: £160,000 Self-employed people are not currently automatically enrolled into a pension, leaving many to fall through the cracks and at risk of struggling in retirement. In fact, researchers Nest Insight recently found that just 18pc of self-employed people pay into a pension, despite three quarters saying they want to. If they were automatically enrolled, a self-employed person earning £23,500 would contribute the minimum 5pc, since there is no employer to pay in. If they did this from age 22, they would have £133,000 in their pot by age 68. If the rate was increased to 6pc, their pot would hit £160,000. Young people Cost to pension pot: £39,000 If workers aged between 18 and 22 were automatically enrolled, it could put tens of thousands more into their pension pot. The legislation for this change has already passed but has yet to be enacted. A young worker on the minimum wage working 40 hours a week would currently be paid £20,800 a year. If the age of auto-enrolment was lowered to 18, they would have an extra four years of pension contributions, meaning their pot would hit £7,000 by age 22. Given the long period it would be able to grow for, that amount would be £26,000 by the time they retired. If the minimum contribution rates were also increased to 12pc, this would be £39,000. Low earners Cost to pension pot: £4,000 Anyone earning at least £6,240 is allowed to join a pension scheme. However, they are not automatically enrolled, nor does their employer have to pay in, until their salary passes £10,000. This also hits people with multiple low-paying jobs, as they still wouldn't be enrolled into a pension for any roles paying below £10,000 – even if their combined earnings were higher. If someone earned £9,000 at age 22 and increased their earnings by 3pc a year, they wouldn't cross the £10,000 threshold until age 26. Missing those four years of paying in would leave them with a pension pot of £77,000, rather than £81,000. There are calls to remove this lower earnings limit, which was also included in the legislation passed and is yet to be put into effect. Susan Hope, of Scottish Widows, said: 'Lowering the age to 18 and removing the lower earnings limit could be absolutely transformative for young people. 'It would move them from a retirement of having no car, takeaways and foreign holidays towards one with more financial freedom and choice – without having to rely on other people.' Helen Morrissey, of Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'Changes to auto-enrolment contribution levels have the potential to transform people's retirement outcomes. However, there is nuance – if the contribution limits are raised across the board there is potential for lower earners to put themselves in financial difficulties today because they are contributing more into their pensions. 'More widely, what the Pensions Commission has shown is that there are a lot of people under-saving for retirement and not heading for the income they want or need. The commission has the potential to have an enormous impact on these people's retirement security.' The Department for Work & Pensions said Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, had addressed the rationale behind the timings in a speech. She said: 'Cost of living pressures mean many workers are more concerned about putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads than saving for a retirement that seems a long, long way away. And many businesses face huge challenges in keeping profitable and flexible in an increasingly uncertain world. 'That's why we have already said there will be no change to minimum auto-enrolment contribution rates during this Parliament.'
