Kemi Badenoch’s party has been ridiculed after pledging to abolish Natural England and the Environment Agency, as well as end net zero regulations to help build houses
The shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith has been compared to an “arsonist running a fire service” after unveiling Tory plans for the economy.
Kemi Badenoch‘s party announced “the biggest deregulation project in a generation”, pledging to abolish Natural England and the Environment Agency and end net zero regulations to help build houses.
They also recommitted to scrapping Labour’s Employment Rights Act, which brought in fresh protections for workers, including day one rights for sick pay, a ban on exploitative zero hours contracts, and a new right for unpaid bereavement law including pregnancy loss.
Bridget Phillipson, Chair of the Labour Party, said: “Trusting the co-author of Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-Budget with Tory plans on the economy and housing is like asking an arsonist to run the fire service. Kemi Badenoch is once again demonstrating her appalling lack of judgement.
“The Tories had 14 years in government to grow our economy and help people get on the housing ladder, but they completely failed at every turn.
“Andy Burnham ’s Labour Government is bringing back hope, driving good growth in every postcode of Britain, and helping young people finally get the step up they need towards securing a home through the “Your First Home” scheme.”
Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect union, which represents members in the Environment Agency and Natural England, branded the policies “ridiculous”.
He said: “It is ridiculous for the Conservatives to blame environmental regulators for the housing crisis, especially when its own MPs are often among the most vociferous opponents of new housing developments.
“The reality is that Conservative budget cuts have left these regulators struggling to perform their vital functions with “lack of resources” the most common reason for planning delays. The solution is to restore their funding to adequate levels, not scrap vital safeguards, as both the Corry and Fingleton reviews recommended.
“This announcement is further proof that the politics of deregulation are a dead end, offering no solution to the challenges this country faces while putting safety and the environment at risk.”
It follows a spate of welfare announcements from the Tories – struggling in the national polls – including axing benefits for some under-25s while introducing pre-loaded cards for claimants and banning them from spending on alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling.
There were also reports they plan to make massive spending cuts exceeding the £47billion announced last year if they ever win back the keys to Downing Street.
Yesterday at conference the Conservatives also unveiled plans for a £700million childcare giveaway for high earners. The plans would end the “cliff edge” on the entitlement for free childcare which means parents earning more than £100,000 do not qualify.
Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats ’ Treasury spokeswoman, said: “No-one can take anything the Conservatives say on the economy seriously given their litany of fantasy-land financial pledges.”