David Cameron has been branded the ‘worst ever’ prime minister for housing, after new figures showed fewer homes were built each year under his leadership than any prime minister since 1923.
The research from former Labour housing minister John Healey found 14% fewer homes were built in England under Cameron compared to Gordon Brown, with 21% fewer than under Tony Blair.
Mr Healey said the figures show ‘six years of failure’ on housing and he will be launching a new report next week calling for a new ‘progressive devolution’ drive on housing and planning.
He said: ‘These figures reveal the David Cameron’s legacy of six years of failure on housing.
‘Alongside reforms on land, planning and investment, Labour’s answer to the country’s housing crisis is to make the strong progressive case for handing out more power to local communities and regions.’
The report, to be published next Tuesday, will call for a single long-term devolved funding pot for housing rather than multiple pots of money.
However, new housing minister Gavin Barwell claimed the problem is catching up with the low level of building under Labour.