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Angela Rayner among Labour MPs slammed for ''hypocrisy'' over housing blitz

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  Deputy PM blasted for pushing through controversial housebuilding plans despite opposing similar developments in the past

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Angela Rayner Faces Accusations of Hypocrisy in Ambitious Housebuilding Drive


In a bold move to tackle Britain's chronic housing shortage, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has positioned herself as the vanguard of Labour's aggressive housebuilding agenda. As the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rayner has vowed to oversee the construction of 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, a target that promises to reshape the UK's urban and rural landscapes. This initiative, unveiled shortly after Labour's landslide victory in the general election, includes sweeping reforms to the planning system, aimed at overriding local objections and fast-tracking developments on underutilized land, including parts of the protected green belt. Rayner has been vocal in her criticism of what she calls "NIMBY" (Not In My Back Yard) attitudes, arguing that such resistance has stifled progress and exacerbated the housing crisis for generations. "We can't afford to let vested interests block the homes our country desperately needs," she declared in a recent speech, emphasizing the need for "mandatory housing targets" to ensure councils deliver on their promises.

However, these pronouncements have sparked a fierce backlash, with critics accusing Rayner of rank hypocrisy. At the heart of the controversy is Rayner's own history and personal circumstances, which opponents claim undermine her credibility on the issue. Reports have highlighted that Rayner, who represents the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency in Greater Manchester, has previously been linked to positions that appear at odds with her current national stance. For instance, during her time as a local councillor and MP, Rayner has been associated with campaigns that resisted large-scale developments in her area, particularly those encroaching on green spaces. Detractors point to specific instances where local Labour-led councils, including those in her region, have dragged their feet on housing projects, citing environmental concerns and community opposition—precisely the kind of barriers Rayner now seeks to dismantle nationwide.

One particularly pointed example revolves around a proposed housing development in Tameside, part of Rayner's constituency. In the past, local residents and councillors, including some from her own party, voiced strong objections to building on green belt land, arguing it would erode the area's natural heritage and strain infrastructure. While Rayner herself has not been directly quoted as opposing the scheme, her silence on the matter and her broader advocacy for protecting local green spaces have been seized upon by critics as evidence of double standards. Conservative MP and former housing minister Robert Jenrick has been among the most vocal, lambasting Rayner in a recent parliamentary debate: "It's all well and good for the Deputy Prime Minister to lecture the nation on the need to build, build, build, but when it comes to her own backyard, suddenly the green belt is sacrosanct. This is hypocrisy of the highest order." Jenrick and others argue that if Rayner is serious about her targets, she should lead by example in her constituency, perhaps by championing controversial projects there rather than imposing them on other parts of the country.

The accusations extend beyond local politics to Rayner's personal life, adding a layer of intrigue to the debate. Rayner famously purchased her council house in Stockport under Margaret Thatcher's Right to Buy scheme in 2007, a policy that allowed tenants to buy their homes at a discount. She later sold the property for a significant profit, reportedly around £48,500, which helped her climb the property ladder. While this move was entirely legal and common at the time, it has been weaponized by opponents who note the irony: Rayner has since criticized aspects of the Right to Buy policy, suggesting it depleted social housing stock, yet she benefited from it personally. In the context of housebuilding, critics draw parallels, claiming that Rayner's push for mass construction ignores the very communities and systems that enabled her own housing security. "She got hers, and now she's pulling up the ladder," quipped one anonymous Tory source, echoing sentiments in conservative media outlets.

This narrative of hypocrisy is set against the broader backdrop of Britain's housing woes. The UK faces a dire shortage of affordable homes, with millions languishing on waiting lists, skyrocketing rents, and homeownership rates plummeting among younger generations. Labour's manifesto pledged to address this by reforming the planning system, which has long been criticized for being overly bureaucratic and susceptible to local vetoes. Rayner's department has already begun implementing changes, such as reinstating mandatory housing targets for local authorities and designating certain green belt areas as "grey belt"—land deemed low-quality and suitable for development. These measures aim to boost supply, potentially lowering prices and alleviating pressure on urban centers. Supporters of Rayner argue that her personal history actually strengthens her case; as someone who rose from a council estate background, she understands the transformative power of accessible housing. "Angela is fighting for the next generation to have the opportunities she had," a Labour spokesperson countered, dismissing the attacks as "desperate smears from a party that failed to build during 14 years in power."

Yet, the controversy has not abated, fueled by media scrutiny and opposition research. The Daily Express, among others, has delved into Rayner's property dealings, revealing that her current home is a spacious Victorian terrace in a leafy suburb, far removed from the high-density developments she advocates elsewhere. This has prompted questions about whether Rayner would support similar builds in her neighborhood. In response, Rayner has defended her record, insisting that her policies are about national necessity, not personal gain. "I've never shied away from tough decisions," she told reporters. "The housing crisis affects everyone, including in my constituency, and we'll build where it's needed." Nevertheless, public opinion appears divided. Polls suggest broad support for increasing housing stock, but skepticism about politicians' consistency runs high, with many voters viewing such rows as symptomatic of a disconnected elite.

The implications of this hypocrisy charge extend to Labour's wider governance. With Keir Starmer's government still in its honeymoon phase, internal unity is crucial, yet Rayner's high-profile role makes her a lightning rod for criticism. Conservatives, reeling from their electoral defeat, see this as an opportunity to regain ground by portraying Labour as out of touch. Shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch has piled on, accusing Rayner of "socialist sermonizing while living like a capitalist." Meanwhile, within Labour, some backbenchers privately worry that the focus on Rayner's past could distract from the party's achievements, such as early progress on planning reforms.

As the debate rages, the real test will come in the implementation phase. Will Rayner's targets translate into shovels in the ground, or will local resistances—perhaps even in her own patch—derail the agenda? Environmental groups have already raised alarms about green belt encroachments, warning of biodiversity loss and urban sprawl. Developers, on the other hand, welcome the changes but caution that without cross-party support, legal challenges could bog down projects. Rayner remains defiant, framing the criticism as resistance to change. "The naysayers have had their day," she asserted in a recent interview. "It's time to deliver for working people."

In essence, the hypocrisy allegations against Angela Rayner encapsulate the tensions at the heart of Britain's housing debate: the clash between national imperatives and local realities, personal histories and public policies. Whether these claims stick or fade will depend on Labour's ability to deliver tangible results. For now, Rayner stands as both a symbol of ambition and a target for those eager to expose perceived inconsistencies. As the government pushes forward, the spotlight on her will only intensify, testing the resilience of her vision for a housed nation. (Word count: 1,128)

Read the Full Daily Express Article at:
[ https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2078717/angela-rayner-hypocrisy-housebuilding ]