Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook (pictured) came out fighting when asked by MPs about the Government’s record during the past two years.

He said much had been achieved and there was always a plan, despite an admission by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s former adviser that Labour hadn’t made sufficient preparations for power.

Major achievements

Pennycook pointed to achievements such as the Renters’ Rights Act, efforts to “bring the leasehold system to an end”, overhauling the planning system and the number of new-build starts as major achievements.

Morgan McSweeney, who resigned as Starmer’s chief of staff over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador, recently admitted there wasn’t a comprehensive plan ahead of the General Election in 2024.

We had a well thought-through, very detailed and comprehensive plan developed in opposition.”

Pennycook has now told MPs on the House of Commons Housing Select Committee: “We had a well thought-through, very detailed and comprehensive plan developed in opposition…and we have ruthlessly executed that over the past two years.”

He went on to say: “I’m extremely, extremely proud of the measures we have taken to boost the rates of housebuilding.”

Incredible pressure

The number of new-build starts has risen 15% in the past year, he told the committee, and that was despite war in the Middle East “placing incredible pressure on the housebuilding industry”.

Pennycook didn’t say, however, if the Government was on track to reach its 1.5 million new homes target by 2029, only saying that the Government could be judged on the number of completions.