Industry figure ‘promises to eat shoes’ if Labour hits housing promise

TV pundit and property expert Russell Quirk has vowed to eat his own shoes if Sir Kier Starmer comes through on his pledge to build 300,000 homes per year should he win the next General Election.

Quirk (main picture) was chatting about the latest net migration figures with GB News host Richard Tice who was covering for Nigel Farage on his show last Thursday evening when he made the crazy promise.

RECORD HIGH

Official figures showed net migration – the difference between people legally arriving in the country and those emigrating – peaking at 745,000 in the year to December 2022 – a record high according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and three times the level before Brexit.

Quirk admitted to being shocked by the net migration number, telling Tice: “It’s huge, obviously. And not just from a housing perspective but the point of view of all resources completely and utterly unsustainable.

“There’s been a 50% housing reduction in housing provision since the 1960’s.

“In the days of the MacMillan government and during the 60s and 70s typically 300,000 new homes were built and produced in Britain every year.

“Now over the last 13 years, so since the start of this particular government, it’s only 168,000 homes.”

300,000 A YEAR

He adds: “And I have to say to you Labour – not much better. So before the Labour supporters start crowing we’ll be much, much better when we get in next year, no they won’t. Because their average is only 180,000 homes per year versus their own self-imposed targets of 300,000 a year.”

Tice pointed out that Sir Kier Starmer has promised to build 1.5 million homes in five years – 300,000 homes per year.

But Quirk scoffed at the prospect and quipped: “If Kier Starmer manages to do that I will eat my shoes.”

Watch the GB News clip HERE.