Keir Starmer accused of 'hollowing out communities' with 'numbers game' pledge on new houses: 'Totally wrong!'

"Delivering houses isn't just a numbers game. It's also about pride of place," he said, arguing that the shift in focus was placing new developments in locations where existing communities were not established.

The Conservative MP warned that the Government's approach was dismantling environmental safeguards previously implemented to ensure housing development could coexist with nature conservation efforts.

Hollinrake emphasised the irreversible nature of environmental destruction, stating: "Once you concrete it over, a badger set, those badgers are finished forever."

The shadow minister stressed that Conservative values centred on conservation, declaring: "We are Conservatives and we conserve. And that's not what's happening."

He argued that successful housing policy must balance development with environmental protection, insisting that "people just don't want to live in a house. They want to live in a home, and homes depend upon their communities, but also the balance with nature."

Hollinrake maintained that housing delivery and nature conservation could work in tandem rather than being mutually exclusive objectives.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Rachel Reeves' pension system overhaul could leave savers 'worse off in retirement'
• Reform UK councillor defended after refusing taxpayer-funded Pride parade: 'NOT a main priority!'
• REVEALED: Reform’s plan to end taxpayer waste and save £35 BILLION a year

The shadow minister revealed that Labour planned to strip local elected councillors of voting rights on most planning applications, which he condemned as "totally wrong" and pledged Conservative opposition to such measures.

Despite his criticism, Hollinrake acknowledged the Conservatives were "not against all the plans the Government's making" and supported higher housing targets in principle.

He defended the previous Conservative government's record, citing "207,000 net additions, which is the highest for 50 years" whilst maintaining environmental protections.

However, he expressed concern about the quality of proposed developments, warning against creating "soulless homes" and insisting that high-quality housing should remain the priority.

Turning to immigration policy, Hollinrake criticised Labour's decision to abandon the Rwanda deportation scheme immediately upon taking office.

He argued that the scheme had enabled authorities to detain illegal migrants pending removal to Rwanda, but Labour's cancellation meant "more people are coming to the UK".

"The numbers are at record levels, and we're seen as an easy touch by the international community that's on the move. That can't be the case," he warned.

The shadow minister insisted that effective immigration control required both managing legal migration and implementing deterrents for illegal crossings, stating: "You cannot do that without that kind of Rwanda deterrent."