Angela Rayner plays down prospect of Labour MP backlash against housing push - as new towns task force launched

Angela Rayner has downplayed the possibility of facing opposition from her fellow MPs over the government's plan to build more houses. She has instead focused on establishing a task force to develop new towns in different parts of the UK.

The vice prime minister, who recently unveiled changes to the planning process to allow for the construction of 1.5 million new homes in the next five years, tried to downplay concerns that her newly elected MPs might reject the required goals if they are not well-received in their local communities.

Ms. Rayner, who also serves as the housing secretary, informed Members of Parliament yesterday that the government is reintroducing compulsory housing goals for local councils, which were previously eliminated by the Conservative Party.

She stated that the yearly goal would be raised from 300,000 houses to slightly more than 370,000.

Latest news in politics: The Chancellor confesses, 'I believe I may need to raise taxes.'

When questioned by journalists on Tuesday if she was preparing for a disagreement with Labour MPs and councils regarding the new policies, the vice prime minister responded by saying that Labour representatives are aware of the housing crisis and have shown support for our promise to build 1.5 million homes. They understand the urgency of this issue and the importance of taking action.

We must acknowledge the urgent situation we are facing in all regions and take action to address it. Our goal is to support efforts to make necessary changes to ensure we have enough housing.

When asked again if Labour MPs would refuse new housing developments without support from their constituents, Ms Rayner explained that by implementing mandatory local plans, there would be more involvement from the local community.

She explained that the main difficulty she has encountered when communicating with communities is that many of these homes are not suitable for their needs.

These are luxury houses, they may not be within reach for those on a tight budget. The cost is prohibitive for them.

She spoke as the government introduced a team of experts to lead Labour's initiatives for building new towns in different parts of the country.

Stay updated with the latest news from Sky News by following them on WhatsApp.

Stay updated on the most recent stories from the United Kingdom and beyond by keeping tabs on Sky News.

The new government plans to build towns with at least 10,000 homes each, which they say will create new communities. This is being promoted as the biggest housebuilding program since after the war.

The task force will be led by Sir Michael Lyons, a key figure in the English Cities Fund, with Dame Kate Barker, an expert in housing economics, serving as deputy chair.

Some of the upcoming neighborhoods to be constructed as part of the program will be standalone developments, while others will involve expanding existing cities and revitalizing areas that already exist.

We recommend using the Chrome browser to view the video player for better accessibility.

Ms Rayner stated that the task force would collaborate with members of the community to determine the most suitable locations for the new towns. This will result in more residential areas, employment opportunities, and natural spaces being created.

She mentioned that the neighborhoods will follow a "fresh urban planning guidelines", requiring developers to make sure the towns have good transportation, facilities, and are attractive, environmentally friendly, and appealing.

The task force was announced after Ms. Rayner revealed changes to the planning system to tackle the housing crisis in the UK. This crisis has led to a significant increase in average private rents, the fastest pace seen since records began in 2015.

Ms. Rayner also expressed the need for measures to address the widespread issue of homelessness, with over one million households waiting for social housing and homes in England costing more than eight times the average income.

As a part of the planning change, the government is adjusting the way they calculate the number of homes needed in each area to more accurately represent the immediate need for housing in local communities.

Discover more: Upset and sadness in Parliament as attack brings MPs together in sorrow. Conservative leadership competition will be a mix of competition and analysis after the event.

The regulations will also mandate that half of all new housing must be priced at an affordable rate, with an emphasis on social housing rent.

Around £450 million from the housing fund of local councils will be used to build 2,000 new homes in a plan that the deputy prime minister has called "innovative" and "pressing".

Over 30 construction companies have shown their support for bringing back mandatory housing goals and opening up areas of "grey belt" land. The term refers to unattractive sections of land within the green belt, such as gas stations and parking lots.

The Conservatives have claimed that Labour has approved the construction of "1.5 million unattractive houses" in England under the new planning reforms.