By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-08-24 06:54:45 | Updated at 2026-09-03 05:01:20
1 week ago
Angela Rayner has watered down housing restrictions on new homes as Labour scrambles to hit its building targets.
The Housing Secretary vowed to build 1.5 million new houses by the end of the decade but is currently running well behind the target.
Under current guidelines, new builds must be within double the footprint of the existing building on a site and at least half of the previously undeveloped part of a plot must be left unbuilt on.
The changes mean plans to build in gardens can be bypassed where "additional development can be accommodated without harm to the overall character of the area, and taking into account the availability of infrastructure”.
Sir James Cleverly, the shadow Housing Secretary, told the Telegraph: "Labour have doubled down on their all-out assault on the green belt, and now they are returning to garden grabbing.
"Blocks of flats are set to be crammed into the suburbs, eating up green space and fundamentally altering the character of local communities."
It is the second set of restrictions to be eased by Ms Rayner, who previously made radical changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Protections of Britain's protected green belt were eased to give a default yes to all new housing within walking distance of a railway station.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We have made changes which recognise that in many places, there is potential for more development, to support thriving neighbourhoods, improve access to jobs and services, and make the best use of land within our towns and cities.
"Our changes will help more homes to be built where they are needed, while stopping unsuitable development. Local people will still be able to have their say, and councils must take those views into account."
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Andy Burnham arrives in Ukraine for first time as PM
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has agreed to provide Ukraine with blueprints to produce long-range missiles
REUTERS
Andy Burnham arrived in Ukraine and has agreed to provide it with blueprints for producing long-range missiles.
The Prime Minister is set to announce during his first trip to Ukraine that he will allow European defence firm MBDA to declassify information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile, the French-produced version of the UK’s Storm Shadow.
The "deep precision strike" missiles use shared French and British technology, and Ukraine and France are looking to set up local assembly lines to produce them in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister is visiting Kyiv on his first foreign trip to mark Ukraine’s independence day and signal the UK’s continued support for the country under his administration.
He arrived this morning and is set to chair his first meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing, set up by the UK and France to support Ukraine under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister will also take part in Independence Day events and accept an award on behalf of the British people recognising the UK’s support.
Mr Burnham is set to assure Ukrainians of the UK’s backing and reiterate that Russia’s threats only strengthen British resolve.
Moscow recently threatened “consequences” over the reported use of British drones by Ukraine in its recent ramping up of deep strikes into Russia’s mainland.
Mr Burnham said: “On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.
“I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine’s security is our security."
Reform pledge to overhaul social housing to place British-born families 'at the front of the queue'
Reform UK are set to unveil fresh plans to overhaul the social housing system in the UK by prioritising British-born youth over foreign nationals and asylum seekers.
Under these plans, British-born workers under 35 will be "placed at the front of the queue", with priority given to married couples with children in a bid to ease the difficulties of getting on the housing ladder.
The party claims priority will also be given to veterans, and social housing will be prioritised for British nationals who are in work - standing on the view that social housing should "not be a reward for welfare".
Reform UK have earlier committed to removing foreign nationals from social housing entirely, pledging to evict them after a short grace period.
The move is expected to free up hundreds of thousands of social homes, with estimates that 540,000 are currently occupied by foreign nationals.
The party highlight how, of the 1.3 million currently on waiting lists, some 15 per cent are foreign nationals - around 195,0000 households.
Majority of Britons say free speech has deteriorated under Labour, bombshell new poll finds
The majority of Britons believe their confidence in the Government's ability to protect free speech has deteriorated under Labour, a new poll has found.
Some 51 per cent said their confidence in the Government to protect their right to express views, even when those views disagree with the Government, had worsened over the past two years, according to polling commissioned for civil rights organisation Liberty.
Just 10 per cent of Britons believed their free speech rights had improved, the polling carried out by Deltapoll for Liberty revealed.
Liberty laid blame on the Home Office, citing travel bans for activists hoping to speak in the UK, the mass arrests of Palestine Action protesters and tougher approaches to protest laws.
