Angela Rayner concedes Labour may fall short on housing target
Angela Rayner has acknowledged that Labour’s ambitious commitment to construct 1.5 million homes before the next election appears increasingly unattainable, reports BritPanorama.
The Housing Secretary described the goal as a “really difficult stretched target,” comparing the undertaking to completing a marathon. She admitted that rising construction costs have negatively impacted the housing initiative.
Despite acknowledging the challenges, Rayner has not abandoned the target outright, continuing to affirm her commitment to achieving it. She conveyed this in an interview with the BBC, where she stated, “It certainly got more challenging, and we’ve seen things like construction costs go up etc., which has had a real negative impact on that.”
Rayner emphasized her determination, saying, “Yeah, I’m going to keep the target, but it’s like me saying I’m going to run the London Marathon in under five hours. That would be a real challenge for me, but I’d do it… Look, I am straight talking.”
As of the latest estimates, only 143,110 homes were completed in 2025, a decline from the 152,040 homes finished in the previous year. This drop further underscores the difficulties faced by the government in meeting its housing objectives.
In a related context, Rayner ruled out implementing rent controls, arguing that current legislation is already affecting the market. “That is not something that we’re looking to do because we’ve seen what’s happened in areas like Scotland. It hasn’t necessarily brought rents down,” she added.
Previously, Rayner departed from government due to issues surrounding unpaid stamp duty related to a property. This matter has since been resolved with a payment of £40,000.
As discussions regarding housing and related reforms continue, the political landscape remains dynamic, reflecting ongoing debates within the Labour Party about addressing the UK’s pressing housing crisis effectively.
The journey towards meeting housing targets will require robust planning and execution, amid rising costs and political scrutiny.
