25 September 2023 , 16:34
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The Liberal Democrat leadership has suffered an embarrassing blow as plans to scrap national housing targets were defeated.
After a fiery debate party members voted on Monday to keep a commitment to build 380,000 homes a year in an attempt to address the country's housing crisis. It came as the party's MP and former leader Tim Farron faced boos after he described the target as "pure Thatcherism" and an "electoral gift to the Tories".
Ed Davey's top team had sought to shift away from a 2019 election pledge on housing in favour of a vow to build 150,000 new council or social homes in England. But applause rung out as members passed a rebel amendment which stated: "Conference maintains its commitment to a national housing target of 380,000 new homes per year, to set a clear direction of travel and to indicate serious intent to address the housing crisis".
Leaflets circulating the conference had warned failing to pass the motion could result in the party losing the "youth vote for the second time in a decade", adding: "Don't let housing become our next tuition fees".
Before the vote, Mr Farron used a short speech at the conference to rally against the national target he claimed achieved "naff all". He told the party's conference hall: "If there was a credible amendment today to build 380,000 council houses a year, I would back it."
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The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale said: "Vague targets let and empower developers to build the houses that they want but never... the homes that we desperately need, especially that young people actually need. The authors of amendment one do not mean it, but it is pure Thatcherism."
Mr Farron also described it as an "electoral gift to the Tories", including in Mid-Bedfordshire where the Lib Dems are hoping to overturn a massive Conservative majority next month in a by-election triggered by the resignation of ex-MP Nadine Dorries. He said: "I will take the hit to stand up against nimbyism, but I will not take an electoral hit to fight the corner of corporate investors."
But Lib Dem London mayoral candidate Rob Blackie hit out at the proposed change, criticising Mr Farron directly. "Tim Farron, that speech was below you. Tim, you are better than that," he said.
During the debate Janey Little, the chair of the Young Liberals, which put forward the motion, said: "We as young people feel ignored and let down by those at the top of our party. This is not the first time we have had to plead our case." After the vote the former Tory Cabinet minister Simon Clarke congratulated the Young Liberals who had put forward the rebel amendment. He said: "On a cross-party, this is the right thing to have done. Unbelievable to see MPs like Tim Farron denouncing building homes".
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