Shadow chancellor to address Tory conference as he claims slashing red tape could cut cost of new houses by £50,000 – UK politics live
UK Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith has proposed a series of deregulatory measures, including the removal of environmental regulations and planning laws, to reduce housebuilding costs. The proposals are being framed as a revival of Thatcherite economic principles.
Why it matters
These proposals represent a significant shift in Conservative policy, prioritizing economic growth and deregulation over environmental protections and planning oversight.
Good morning. Yesterday Kemi Badenoch published a tract setting out the principles that a Conservative government would follow in office. It was presented as Thatcherism revived for the 21st century, and a key theme was that government should leave wealth creation up to business, and not get in the way with red tape.
Today Andrew Griffith , the shadow chancellor, is presenting a plan that illustrates what this would mean in practice. Normally, at party conference, ministers and shadow ministers put out a press release in advance of their speeches highlighting just one headline policy idea, with perhaps one or two associated policies.
Overnight Griffith has published what is practically a manifesto. The press release alone runs to almost 5,000 words. Jessica Elgot had the task of reading them all for us yesterday and here is her write-up.
But there are plenty of other proposals in the package too, including:
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